Mall will look at disabled parking
A disabled pensioner from Edleen said the boomed area at entrance 4 was opened by security to allow any Dick, Tom and Harry in
FESTIVAL Mall is investigating a number of options to alleviate the frustration disabled shoppers experience at the centre.
According to Lee-Anne Leathy, spokesman for the centre, until such a time, they have instructed their security guards to manage the process more actively and smoothly.
Leathy has reacted in the wake of a number of letters EXPRESS received from readers regarding the situation with disabled parking areas at the mall. She could not provide further details at this stage.
One reader complained about the disabled parking area being in the open.
“People in wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters cannot move quickly. By the time they are in the car, they will be soaked.
“Also, by using a walker, it means the person walks with difficulty and should they need to walk to Game, for instance, it is a long way from the top entrances. Why don’t you bar the undercover parking with a chain and lock and disabled persons can also apply to get a copy of the key.
“The security on duty can also assist in unlocking, should it be needed,” the reader wrote.
A disabled pensioner from Edleen said the boomed area at entrance 4 was opened by security to allow any Dick, Tom and Harry in.
“Nine times out of ten the boom gate does not work and you have to keep your hand on the hooter to get attention.
“At entrance 3 there are never security guards around to open the boom gate. No mention is made of entrance 1 and 2. Disabled people also use these entrances.
“I was parked in the disability parking at entrance 1 and a BMW was also parked there with no disability sticker. I waited and you can imagine my surprise when a metro police officer got into the vehicle. He was dressed in uniform,” he said.
“Do what other malls do and clamp wheels for illegal parking and only upon payment of the fine will they be unclamped.”
LL van Rensburg wrote he had a valid remote and parking ticket, which he had used on rare occasions when having to go to the bank.
“However, the issue is not these parking areas but the undercover ones at entrance 1. Those are not ‘boomed’ bays, hence non-disabled drivers often tend to take up those spaces, while we have to try and find parking far from the actual entrance to these shops.
“After all, we pay for these parking tickets and as such why should we, who are impaired, be expected to battle to find parking where we are entitled, while the hale, hearty and lazy think nothing of inconveniencing us?”
