Three disabled parking bays that have changed into a loading bay have made getting into town more challenging, says a wheelchair user.

Paul Sullivan, a paraplegic Braddan resident, contacted the Examiner as he was concerned that the change on Regent Street in Douglas would be permanent.

The three disabled parking bays were in a much better spot for wheelchair users to access shops and amenities easily than the six temporary disabled car parking bays on the promenade walkway.

’Why haven’t they put temporary ones somewhere close?

’I would normally go into town three to four times a week, but now I’ve stopped. It takes ages to get to the ones on the promenade,’ he said.

’They’re making it less and less accessible all the time.’

The Department of Infrastructure has confirmed that the change is temporary and that 11 more disabled parking spaces will be available on Douglas Promenade once works are finished.

Mr Sullivan added that no signs were put up in Regent Street to inform those using the disabled parking bays of the change.

The DoI has apologised for this.

’No signs were erected prior to changing the temporary markings, and the department apologises for this. Signs will now be placed there to direct people to the spaces on the walkway,’ a spokesman said.

The temporary loading bay change is due to the current closure of Howard Street to vehicles, as it was previously used for delivery vehicles to drop off items to hotels and businesses on Loch Promenade, they said.

To compensate for the changes on Regent Street, six additional disabled parking spaces were made available on the promenade walkway opposite Regent Street.

A further six disabled spaces along the walkway have also been made available.

Before the works to redevelop Douglas Promenade began there was a total of 18 disabled car parking spaces, the department said.

Bays

Following the works, there will be 29.

In the vicinity of Regent Street, the number of disabled parking bays will remain the same: eight.

Mr Sullivan, who lost the ability to move his legs after a motorcycle crash about 20 years ago, has received parking tickets and warnings after he used the loading bays in Regent Street.

Although the road paint now clearly reads: ’Loading only’ Mr Sullivan said there had been no fair warning of the change.

He said: ’How can the politicians keep saying "we need more people coming into town" and when people like myself try to come into town we get a parking ticket.

’It doesn’t give you much incentive to go into town.’