A disabled woman in Cardiff has been fined more than £1,000 for using a disabled parking space outside her flat because the space allocated to her home is inaccessible. Cerys Gemma, 34, who uses a wheelchair, said the designated bay at her waterside flat in Prospect Place, Cardiff Bay, is blocked by a pillar and another car park space.
Ms Gemma has instead been using one of the parking spaces reserved for disabled visitors. She said she has been in contact with property management and parking companies for two years to explain her need for an accessible bay, but has continued to receive fines. She described the situation as “desperate” and said she is seeing a counsellor.
New Generation Parking Management, which manages the bays on behalf of Prospect Place Management, said the spaces must be kept free for disabled visitors, not residents. It argued that allowing one resident to use a disabled visitor space would reduce availability for other disabled visitors. The property management firm Ringley Group, which manages the building but not the bays, said a friend of Ms Gemma has been using her allocated space, and she has been “attempting on a continuous basis” to use an additional visitor’s space. It said it is working with the local council on a possible “space swap”.
Disability rights lawyer Chris Fry of Scott Moncrieff & Associates said the property firms have an obligation under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. He argued that prioritising disabled people above others is legal, and that the fines should be cancelled. He said a breach of the act could result in compensation for injury to feelings.
New Generation Parking Management said it will raise the matter at the next board meeting, as it cannot change the rules without board approval. Ms Gemma said she simply wants to live in her flat without the worry of further fines.
