Hazards in the street and inconsiderate motorists are making Dundee ‘disability unfriendly’ this Christmas.
Disabled Dundonians are contending with physical barriers, including banned A-boards outside shops to get into the city centre.
Motorists using disabled spaces and others parked next to drop kerbs, making them inaccessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, are other challenges facing disabled residents.
The Dundee Blind Society is particularly troubled by A-boards, still used by businesses on Perth Road and Reform Street, despite a council ban on obstructions on the pavement.
Erik Cramb, of the Dundee Pensioners Forum, said he is concerned that businesses continue to use A-boards.
He said: “People with disabilities don’t expect life to be perfect, and there are some things we might just have to live with, but there are some things that are so easily fixed that would make such a difference to disabled people just trying to get out and about to live their lives.”
He said small changes in people’s behaviour would make a big difference, such as responsible parking.
Mr Cramb said: “It is outrageously inconsiderate to park in a blue badge space when you don’t have a blue badge.
“Also a lot of people park right next to the drop kerbs without thinking and then they become useless for disabled people.”
Former minister Mr Cramb, 75, has mobility issues as a result of suffering polio as a young boy but said his disability “is at inconvenience level”.
He was asked to look into the issue as part of his work tackling inequality in the city with the cross-agency Fairness Commission.
Other issues raised by disabled groups in Dundee included hostile attitudes with some people even labelling disabled people as ‘benefit scroungers’.
Mr Cramb said he would like to see Dundee rebranded as ‘Dundee, A Decent City’ to promote a culture of respect for vulnerable and a ‘good places register’ for disabled people similar to the current trusted traders scheme.
Commenting on the banned A-boards, a spokeswoman for Dundee City Council said as well as carrying out inspections, they would always act on complaints about obstructions.
She said: “We will be contacting these businesses to discuss the situation.
“Section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 deals with ‘Control of obstructions in the road’.
“It states that ‘nothing shall be placed or deposited in a road so as to cause an obstruction except with the roads authority’s consent in writing’.
“In this case no request was made to the council.”