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Beach ‘jobsworth’ is a barrier to disabled OAP
7:00pm Thursday 8th May 2008
Comments (29)
AN ELDERLY disabled woman was left "humiliated" when she was denied access through a barrier to Boscombe beach, her family claim.
Angry relatives of the 81-year-old woman have hit out at a "jobsworth" council worker who refused to allow them to drop her off at a beachfront café without paying £5 in car park fees.
The pensioner, who can only walk a few paces with the aid of a stick, struggled in vain to reach the café.
But in the end, she had to sit on a bench while her family brought her tea and biscuits.
Bournemouth council says the barrier operator was right to refuse them access because the promenade is not suitable for dropping off.
But Sue Quinn, of Southbourne, said the incident overshadowed what should have been an enjoyable day for her, her husband and children and her husband's parents.
They were unable to visit their nearest beach at Fisherman's Walk because the cliff lift is currently out of order and so travelled to the nearest accessible beach at Boscombe.
"The plan was for the grandparents to have a cup of tea at the café on the prom while watching the children enjoy the water and the sand," she said.
Mrs Quinn intended to drop her mother-in-law off at the café and then turn around immediately and park at a cheaper car park.
But this request was refused, despite the fact the prom car park was not particularly busy and they had a valid disabled badge.
She added: "We refused on point of principle to deal with this man any further, let alone agree to pay such an outrageous amount of money to drop a disabled person 100 metres past the barrier."
Instead, her mother and father-in-law had to watch their grandchildren from a bench at the Boscombe Pier roundabout.
Andrew Emery, services development officer, said: "We are sorry to hear that this customer had a problem but due to the narrow promenade on which this popular seafront car park is situated, there is insufficient room for vehicles to drop visitors off without blocking the road for other users and emergency vehicles.
"We would encourage customers to use alternative drop-off points along the seafront such as at the East Cliff lift or Alum Chine."
The council insists it is working hard to improve seafront access and points out that permanent wheelchair users and their carers can use the East and West cliff lifts and the land train for free.
Your Say YourBournemouth Echo
omegaman, Bournemouth says...
8:30pm Thu 8 May 08
Angus, Bournemouth says...
8:33pm Thu 8 May 08
omegaman, Bournemouth says...
8:38pm Thu 8 May 08
PETE WOODLEY, says...
9:35pm Thu 8 May 08
omegaman wrote:I have done this,i believe its not legal to charge if not parking,the attendant was fuming.i do posess a disabled badge,and cannot walk far.
If you going towards Bournemouth from Boscombe then as stated it is only a parking fee and if you tell the attendants that you are not going to park but merely drive up and back then they cannot charge you a fee as it is a road. It would be diferrent going towards Southborne and that part of the promenade is different.
Karen, says...
10:06pm Thu 8 May 08
Si, Poole says...
10:12pm Thu 8 May 08
derek, dorset says...
10:48pm Thu 8 May 08
This is a elderly lady on a rare day out treat with respect and I may have some respect for you.
We will all get get old one day , and I hope by the time I get there someone has taught BC and DCC how to look after people and again treat with respect.
derek, dorset says...
10:55pm Thu 8 May 08
There are lots of places to take mum or grandmum ( not forgetting dads and gdads) thst you will get a nice day to remember without stress or blah blah .
And treated with respect ... it costs nothing
derek, dorset says...
10:58pm Thu 8 May 08
There are lots of places to take mum or grandmum ( not forgetting dads and gdads) thst you will get a nice day to remember without stress or blah blah .
And treated with respect ... it costs nothing
Munkstar, Bournemouth says...
7:20am Fri 9 May 08
2Much, New Forest says...
7:53am Fri 9 May 08
However, most disabled people have to make adjustments to get on with their lives, maybe if this lady had a wheelchair, they could have parked close by and gone to the cafe the same as everyone else.
On the other hand, the council, is by law, supposed to make a reasonable adjustment, and lifting the barrier for a few mins would not have killed him!
fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown says...
8:00am Fri 9 May 08
quote
norbitonpaul, says...
8:09am Fri 9 May 08
It is eroding the qualty of life everywhere. Our roads have become canvases for officialdom to restrict and constrain reasonable freedom of movement in pursuit of tax income.
Phil, Poole says...
8:13am Fri 9 May 08
Karen wrote:No, actually, disabled people merely want access to the same facilities as everyone else.
Oh boo hoo! Go somewhere else with free parking! Or carry her. Honestly, everyone wants preferential or FREE treatment these days.
Still parking in those disabled bays because you're too lazy to walk 100 yards, Karen?
Still moaning about people who have disabled badges but shouldn't (by your reckoning, not knowing any of their medical details)?
And, most bizarre of all, still thinking you're better than badge fraudsters when you're just as bad by clogging up disabled bays for valid users?
RW1234, South Coast says...
8:18am Fri 9 May 08
Munkstar wrote:What sort of statement is that? This person is 62 years old and can not walk far. She wants a quiet sit down to watch her family enjoy the beach and common sense was not used by someone who could have bent the rules to help her out.
Pay your way or stay away.
Munkstar you are a complete Muppet and i actually pray that someday you are in a situation where this sort of thing affects you because i fear this is the only way someone like you would understand what everyone else on this thread is saying.
Enjoy your day in front of the telly watching rubbish TV complaining that nobody will give you a job..!!!
Charlie, says...
8:38am Fri 9 May 08
I accept that, as a person with mobility problems, I can't go to places like Hampton Court Palace, The Victoria and Albert Museum, many country houses, etc because they are listed building and exempt from providing facilities for the disabled, but being dropped off at a beach-front cafe is totally different. Hope the jobsworth concerned has the same experience some time.
bobble212, Christchurch says...
9:01am Fri 9 May 08
Pay your way or stay awayWhat a wonderful, caring world we live in...I am so glad to be apart of it....NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
bassmankang, poole says...
9:52am Fri 9 May 08
Karen wrote:Grow up you selfish cow! Just the sort of unfriendly attitude that is ruining this country....let's hope YOU end up in a wheelchair and dependent on others!
Oh boo hoo! Go somewhere else with free parking! Or carry her. Honestly, everyone wants preferential or FREE treatment these days.
Ed, Bournemouth says...
10:44am Fri 9 May 08
bassmankang wrote:Please don't say that. Can you imagine someone as rude, selfish and arrogant as Karen in a wheelchair. She wouldn't park in disable spaces, she'd park on pavements then go tearing down the street sending women, children and anything else in her way flying.
Karen wrote: Oh boo hoo! Go somewhere else with free parking! Or carry her. Honestly, everyone wants preferential or FREE treatment these days.Grow up you selfish cow! Just the sort of unfriendly attitude that is ruining this country....let's hope YOU end up in a wheelchair and dependent on others!
As for shops without disabled access, heaven protect them. Karen would be outside blocking the shop doorway screaming at the staff to get service, after all she is Karen, probably the most unpleasant woman in Dorset.
Maria, christchurch says...
11:06am Fri 9 May 08
nickg, canford heath says...
11:22am Fri 9 May 08
bobble212, Christchurch says...
1:25pm Fri 9 May 08
Grow up you selfish cow! Just the sort of unfriendly attitude that is ruining this country..Beautifully said !! :)
RichT, Christchurch says...
2:07pm Fri 9 May 08
As for the council's "not enough room" excuse, how weak is that!
Any normal person would have allowed a vehicle to stop briefly in one of the empty parking bays to drop off a disabled person.
This is Bournemouth council though, I suppose!
davey, bournemouth says...
5:14pm Fri 9 May 08
Tru Belle, purbeck says...
5:49pm Fri 9 May 08
davey wrote:WRONG on that score Davey, this is an important human failing which is increasing all the time. SPOIL SPORT is my preferred nicer word for people whose serious attitude to their job takes them to the extremes of inhumanity that no other bod has gone before!
Feel for the woman but hardly 'Real' news
PETE WOODLEY, says...
6:16pm Fri 9 May 08
Shedmans Friend, Bournemouth says...
1:25pm Sat 10 May 08
silky, Bournemouth says...
10:37pm Thu 15 May 08
Karen wrote:Shame on you Karen. Disability is not about getting free treatment. What a nasty thoughtless comment.
Oh boo hoo! Go somewhere else with free parking! Or carry her. Honestly, everyone wants preferential or FREE treatment these days.
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PETE WOODLEY, says...
7:07pm Thu 8 May 08