Star date: 8th January 2015

CIVIC CENTRE DISABLED BAY DISAPPEARS FOR SALFORD MAYOR'S CAR

Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart today parked his car in a disabled bay in front of the Civic Centre that had its `Disabled' markings crudely painted out. A passer-by who noticed the Mayor's car told the Salford Star, "Disabled people struggle to find parking spaces in Salford but Salford Council can try and cover up parking areas for the Mayor to park...I thought `Is he having a laugh?'"

The Mayor was also slammed as a "disgrace" by campaigners against Council cuts in transport for disabled people who are awaiting the verdict of their legal appeal.

Full details here...

People walking past the main entrance to the Salford Council chamber at Swinton Civic Centre got a shock today when they found the Mayor's car parked in the centre of a large bay used for disabled parking. The distinctive yellow `Disabled' sign on the road had been crudely covered over with black paint.

"I think it's totally unacceptable that disabled people have to find other disabled parking areas because Salford Council and the Mayor are taking up their bays" said one person who contacted the Salford Star.

"Disabled people struggle to find parking spaces in Salford but Salford Council can cover up parking areas for the Mayor to park" they added "I was just walking past and saw where it said `Disabled' and it was painted out; they haven't burnt it off or anything just painted over it so you can still see it. I thought `Is he having a laugh?' He can't do that. I couldn't get my head around it."

Meanwhile, people campaigning against cuts to transport for disabled people called Mayor Ian Stewart's actions a "disgrace"...

"We can't have our transport but he can park right outside where he works...Oh my goodness me, it's an absolute disgrace...how can he do that?" said Noreen Bailey, who has had transport for her severely disabled lads removed as part of the Council's cuts. Campaigners are currently awaiting a verdict from London's Royal Courts of Justice after an appeal against the transport cuts (see here).

"I'm getting soaked in the rain and I've got a bad back from having to take my boys to their day centre, then pick them up later, because our buses have been cut" she added "It's horrendous."

Salford Council came under fire last September when a driver who would normally transport disabled people to their day centres was instead chauffeuring the Ceremonial Mayor around the city following the cuts (See previous Salford Star article – click here).

Elected Mayor Ian Stewart was also criticised last year after parking his personal camper van over two spaces in the staff car park with no paid permit in view, despite staff having to pay 1% of their wages to park in the same space (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

The Salford Star asked Salford Council to comment on the latest embarrassment but the Council failed to respond.