At the Cabinet Member for Transport & Public Realm meeting on 5 July 2011 it is likely that the application by a restaurant leaseholder for removing two disabled parking bays on New Road will be turned down.

The report considers the responses to the proposed Traffic Order: none were in support and 14 objections against.

The report argues that the fairest decision is to turn down the TRO. It would not be ethical or democratic for the Council to waive the principles on which the shared space of New Road was based in the first place.

The leaseholder had indicated that his business may fail if the bay cannot be moved. The council had considered options to support the leaseholder, but cannot place business needs above those of existing disabled users.

The Freeholder been advised back in May 2009 before the lease had been signed that there had several disabled bays in New Road prior to its redesign, and the council considered it vitally important to re-instate a number of such bays within the new Design. There was no compelling reason to move the bays in order to accommodate additional café placements.

If the Council were to move a disabled bay to create outdoor space for one premises, it would set a precedent for other businesses, and it was not prepared to constantly alter or re-mark the public highway or change the design or layout of roads to accommodate table and chair placements in this case.

As several objectors put it: “Are you seriously thinking about taking blue badge parking bays out completely just because the businessman is moaning about the fact he can't get more tables and chairs onto the street?”

“It is unbelievable that someone would be so selfish as to request the removal of disabled parking spaces outside his restaurant….I think many people would boycott this place.”

“What was there first: his restaurant or the parking spaces?”

“To reduce the disabled parking bays from three to one for a greedy business owner is not one I feel the council should support. I would hope that the new Green administration would support disabled people in our city and be looking at ways in which disabled bays can be increased, not eliminated.”

There are two other related application in the pipe-line: one for serving alcohol and one for tables and chairs on the pavement and road.