By Sarah Curran
INCONSIDERATE parking near Ards Rugby Club is forcing local wheelchair users onto ‘hazardous’ roads.
Residents at Phoenix Clinic and Resource Centre are calling for motorists to be more mindful when parking along the Lansdown Road in Newtownards.
The residential home, located close to Ards Rugby Club, is home to young people with physical disabilities and those who are able, have access to electric wheelchairs.
However, over recent months wheelchair users in the care home have experienced issues accessing the footpath along Lansdown Road due to ‘mindless’ motorists blocking the path with their vehicles.
Stefan Hughes, a resident at the home, said he has been ‘disappointed’ on occasion when cars parked on the footpath have meant he has either had to go on the road to access his destination or turn back and go home.
While Mr Hughes stressed that the issue was not exclusively caused by those attending Ards Rugby Club, it has been accepted by committee members that there is a ‘problem’ associated with parking in the area on event days.
“People just aren’t thinking when they are parking,” Mr Hughes said, adding that blocking the footpaths affected young families with buggies and older people.
“Just think, am I possibly blocking somebody from getting past. That’s all I am asking. Just think before you do it.”
Karen Conway, nurse manager at Phoenix Clinic and Resource Centre, said she believed very few people were aware there was a residential home in the area.
She said the parking issue had become ‘a problem’, noting how the residents in the home were trying to have some ‘independence in their lives’.
She added that local residents nearby also found the parking to be an issue, with some homeowners unable to get out of their driveways due to inconsiderate parking.
“I know the Rugby Club have tried to help by putting cones outside so when people are using their facility they are encouraged to use the car park and they have quite a good rapport with us,” Ms Conway continued.
“They [the motorists] are probably thinking they are trying to stop blocking the road but it would be less dangerous to be a bit on the road than block the footpaths for people.”
Speaking to those causing the issue, Ms Conway pleaded: “Please remember there is a nursing home here with residents who are trying to have a little bit of independence to their lives and this parking is restricting them from being able to live an independent life to do things that everyone else takes for granted.”
Ards and North Down councillor Stephen Irvine recently met with representatives of Ards Rugby Club, the PSNI and the Department of Infrastructure to discuss the ongoing parking challenges and said that during discussions it became ‘clear’ the ‘inconsiderate parking’ was caused by visitors.
He noted how while the club has a car park, ‘impatient’ motorists who did not want to get caught up in congestion in the club’s car park, parked along the nearby road instead.
“It’s not really the rugby club’s fault,” Mr Irvine said. “They are trying and have marshals on and everything but people just don’t want to park in the car park.”
Mr Irvine concluded: “They need to have a bit of courtesy for pedestrians and at the home. A lot of people don’t realise there is a home there with very independent people. They are blocking them and it is a severe hazard for them getting onto the road.”
