Disabled Access

[CEC]

I am a member of a craft group, we rent a church hall for two hours each week. Outside there are two disabled parking spaces and room for two other vehicles. The vicar has decided that he does not want anyone to use this area and he has installed bollard at the entrance to the drive. This has a lock on it, but the lock is very close to the floor and the lady who has the key is unable to bend down to unlock it.
Not one of our group is under 60 years of age and several of them have mobility problems.
I feel that if we are renting the room we should be able to use the drive especially for the disabled parking spaces. Also with the coming winter access is going to be more difficult, for us and for other groups that use this venue. Any views would be appreciated.

[Buenchico]

While I note that you've posted in 'Law', it seems likely that your problem is more of a practical one than a legal one. Why not ask the vicar for permission to get an additional bollard key cut (at your group's expense), with the promise that you'll ensure that the bollards are always left locked in place after you leave the church hall?

[BlackadderV]

I don't think that that will help. If nobody can bend down to unlock it I hardly see where an extra key will be of any benefit.

[Buenchico]

I was assuming, BAV, that 'the lady who has the key' is, perhaps, a volunteer caretaker for the hall, rather than a member of the group hiring it (who, hopefully, will have at least one regular member who can still bend down!)

[CEC]

The vicar has been told of the problems but at the moment he does not seem to be listening, let alone coming up with a solution. In view of his attitude I do not see why we should be getting down on hands and knees to remove this obstacle.

[EDDIE51]

Is the problem just that the locks are near the ground? What do you suggest the vicar does ? The locks on these are near the ground , that is how they are made. The only way I can see out of it is to get someone younger and more agile to unlock them for you.

[sinderella]

ask him to unlock then before you arrive,then lock them after you leave

[hc4361]

No doubt if the posts weren't there it would be a free for all and you'd be lucky to find a space.
With vicars usually being responsible for more than one church these days it is doubtful he would have the time to lock and unlock the post for you. You will just have to ask a passerby to unlock it for you. Locking should be easier as you won't need the key and it isn't so fiddly

[Maydup]

Defect to the next parish and report back about the lovely tea and biscuits provided free with the room.

[Zacs-Master]

Are any of your group disabled badge holders?

[EDDIE51]

^^ Zacs , the questioner says ''Not one of our group is under 60 years of age and several of them have mobility problems'' so I would say several of them will be 'blue badge ' holders.

[Zacs-Master]

You're just assuming Ed.

[Zacs-Master]

It's very relevant to the legality of the situation and the disabled spaces.

[DaisyNonna]

S*d the legality. How about a little Christian understanding?

[EDDIE51]

The title of the post is 'Disabled access' so I think it is can be taken that there are blue badge holders.
In any case if the parking bollards were removed before the group arrived , unauthorised parking would take all the spaces and the situation would be worse.

[Zacs-Master]

Best to make sure eh?

[hc4361]

It is not illegal to park a car without a blue badge in a disabled space on private land.
Bad mannered and selfish, not illegal