....To Ieuan Wyn Jones AM Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport this is disgraceful!! Pavement parking is a serious problem which the police are not not dealing with adequately. I am writing to you on behalf of living streets and asking that AMs to take action and stop pavement parking. The House of Commons Transport Committee has slammed the Government for not tackling pavement parking. It said, "Parking on the pavement is likely to cause a grave danger to pedestrians. In particular, it creates hazards for people with disabilities and visual impairments, older people, and those with prams or pushchairs." Please can you tell me what is being done to tackle this issue in Wales and what action the minister is going to take over this case in Wales. Will he make a statement condemning the police for arresting a blind man who was justified in protesting against dangerous pavement parking and outlining action to stop this dangerous practice of pavement parking?
Did you see this story..you can hear him tell his story on the web page. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8225778.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8225778.stm Daniel Duckfield on his frustrations over the parking problems and his arrest A blind man who complained to police about cars parking on a pavement was arrested when he threatened to let down the vehicles' tyres. Daniel Duckfield, from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, said he and his guide dog had to walk in the road when paths were blocked by illegally-parked cars. He has complained about being cautioned and put in a cell after his arrest. Dyfed-Powys Police said it was investigating Mr Duckfield's complaints. Mr Duckfield, who became blind in December 1999, claimed police were not doing enough to tackle motorists parking illegally on pavements near his home. He said he had repeatedly complained to officers about cars blocking his path when he went out of his house, forcing him and his guide dog to walk on a main road. Last week, after phoning officers and feeling he was getting no help, he went a step further. He said: "I said all right, if you're not going to do anything I'll do something myself, I'll let the tyres down and I'll write 'no parking' on the windscreen. "I went to the door [and] locked the door. By the time I got 50 yards down my street there was a policeman running towards me. "He told me he was going to arrest me because I had threatened to let tyres down and threatened to write on windscreens." Mr Duckfield said he was taken to a police station and held in a cell before being cautioned. He said: "I thought it was absolutely disgusting. I came back here and I sat down and I almost cried but I thought, no, the temper took over me." Mr Duckfield said the arrest meant he would no longer be asked to visit schools with his guide dog. Dyfed-Powys Police said the force had held a crackdown on illegal parking in Narberth last month. A spokesperson added: "It is unfortunate Mr Duckfield decided to take matters into his own hands on this occasion." The spokesperson added Mr Duckfield's complaints would be fully investigated.
Blind man wants action over illegal town parking
Tenby Observer - Aug 28, 2009
A man who lost his eyesight 10 years ago has hit out at the local authorities for turning a blind eye to illegal parking issues in Narberth. ...
Blind man lodges complaint
TeleText - Aug 27, 2009
A blind man from West Wales has lodged an official complaint after being arrested for threatening to let down the tyres of illegally parked cars. ...
