Disabled councillor hits out at motorised scooter 'hogs'

A DISABLED councillor has hit out at fellow motorised scooter users for hogging the streets.

Barnard Castle’s Cllr George Hallimond told colleagues he wanted buggy drivers to stick to paths at last week’s town council services committee.

He said: “Frankly, a lot of people using the road are not taxed or insured for using scooters on the road and I know several.

“I stick to the footpath but these people seem to think they have a right to be on the road with no tax or insurance.

“Unless you are, and you have a number plate, you should not be allowed on the road. When there is an accident the proverbial muck will hit the fan.”

Smaller “class two scooters” which are limited to 4mph are only allowed on the road to cross. However, larger “class three scooters” are legally allowed on the road at a maximum speed of eight mph.

They do not require road tax or insurance but must be registered with the DVLA and could be liable for any collisions.

Wet leaves and ice often force scooter users onto the roads – something Cllr Hallimond appreciated and accepted. But he told council colleagues he’d seen a scooter driver singlehandedly creating a queue of traffic.

He added: “I saw one man on Wilson Street with a dozen people behind him – I told him and he said ‘I can go wherever I want’.

“If they’re not told they’re breaking the law they’ll just carry on.”

Cllr John Blissett was also concerned, labelling the practice “crazy”.

But Cllr Frank Harrison worried the police would struggle to tackle the problem.

He said: “They’ll say it’s discrimination against them so the police will be on a hiding to nothing. ‘Outsiders’ using residential parking spaces and shop owners shop owners who didn’t provide disabled access were also in Cllr Hallimond’s crosshairs.

He added: “They have just introduced a new law but businesses just ignore it.

“There is one bank in the town you can get into – the rest you can’t. We’re letting shops put stuff on the pavements – what would the problem be with a ramp?”

Temporary ramps used on the continent and fibre glass ramps used by shops in Bishop Auckland were touted as possible remedies to the access troubles.

Cllr Richard Child has led efforts to try to improve accessibility for less mobile dale folk around the town.

So far, Durham County Council have earmarked grab rails outside St Mary’s Church, in Newgate, with disabled parking outside Natwest in Market Place also being looked into.

However, there were nagging doubts from councillors about loading wagons and the absence of time restrictions.

Cllr Blissett said he remembered arguments over parking outside Heron and the loss of parking access there.

Cllr Frank Harrison added: “Don’t forget, there are no disabled parking bays on Galgate apart from opposite the Post Office. There are none in Market Place itself and I think there should be.”

Members thanked Cllr Child for his work.

“Let’s hope something happens,” he added.