"We'll be back in five minutes"

Motorists planning on parking in Trim's Market Street recently were in for a bit of a shock - when they found several regular car parking spaces had been taken over by wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

Guerrilla action had been taken by people with disabilities who parked their wheelchairs and walking aids in ten ‘regular’ parking spaces, with a message that they’d be ‘back in five.’

The Meath Disability Network used a novel approach to highlight the problem of able bodies people parking in disabled bays.

The mobility aids were 'parked' in regular parking spaces for two hours to "highlight how annoying it is when someone takes advantage of a disabled car parking space".

Around 30 service users and volunteers from the Meath Disability Network took over ten parking spaces between 10am and 12noon.

Meath county council and the local gardai  supported the initiative.
While members of the network hand out flyers explaining what they were up to, parking attendants and members of the gardai  inspected disabled driver permits.

The occasion also saw he launch of an  innovative new text service with accessible parking spots around the town kitted out with signs displaying a mobile phone number. Members of the public can text the number and send a key word which denotes the location of the bay, to report misuse of the car parking space (eg Watergate) and this will be sent straight to traffic warden.

The action highlighted in a unique way that accessible parking spaces in the town should only be used by drivers with a valid disability parking permit.

Cllr Caroline Lynch who was present on Friday morning said there was great support from the local business people for the action.

"They were all very supportive. Motorists who came along were also supportive when they heard what it was all about."