Disabled parking loophole uncovered in Helensburgh

Argyll and Bute Council made the admission after Helensburgh resident Jim Hatton discovered an able-bodied motorist's vehicle occupying a disabled space in the town centre on Sunday, May 26.

The second driver told Mr Hatton he was doing nothing wrong by using the bay next to Helensburgh Cycles – because adjacent signs suggested the restrictions only apply from Monday to Saturday.

And an enquiry to Argyll and Bute Council confirmed that was indeed the case in both the West Clyde Street bay and a “small number” of other disabled spaces elsewhere.

A council spokesperson said: “Blue badge holders are entitled to park for free in any designated parking bay anywhere in Argyll and Bute.

“A small number of our marked ‘disabled’ bays can be used by non-blue badge holders at certain times, as is the case with this particular bay.”

Mr Hatton said: “Imagine my surprise when I was told by someone parked in that bay that the sign above the disabled parking sign said the restrictions only apply between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

“As it was Sunday the sign didn’t count so no, he would not move. Apparently by the time he parked there, there were no spaces available, except at the pier.

“I’m quite shocked to discover that it is the case. I checked on Tuesday morning and lo and behold – who knew?

“It is quite a misleading sign, difficult to interpret, as it looks like two separate signs.

“It is a pity the way they designed the disabled parking scheme in Helensburgh, as this is the only space close to stores like Boots and Tesco at that end of Sinclair Street.

“I think they should make disabled spaces available only to disabled users all the time. The driver who used the space said it was the only space he could find, but he has the option of parking elsewhere and I do not.

“If there are no other spaces available, but there is a free disabled one, the temptation is going to be there to use it.”

Councillor Ellen Morton, chair of the council's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee, said: “This is news to me but somebody has clearly studied the rules.”