DISABLED shoppers are abandoning Otley due to a lack of parking spaces in the town centre.

That is the claim being made by 82-year-old Pearline Berry, a Throstle Nest Close resident who feels drivers with disabilities are being “pushed out” of the town centre.

Mrs Berry, a Blue Badge holder for some 12 years, says recent changes mean she regularly struggles to get parked close enough to the shops and services she needs.

She has taken the issue up with Leeds City Council’s highways department – and is now calling on other residents to get in touch to help lobby for change.

She said: “I think the situation is a great injustice, they’ve just pushed us out of the town and it’s so unfair.

“It doesn’t make sense either. Otley has a large elderly population and it’s getting bigger.

“A few years ago we had parking in the market square, then they resurfaced that and banned Blue Badge holders from parking there, but you could park beside the British Heart Foundation shop.

“They’ve just taken that away now too, though, and the new disabled parking bays are almost all the way out of town, at the other end of Kirkgate, too far away for me to get to the places I need to shop.

“This is the worst the parking has been since I’ve been a Blue Badge holder, I just can’t get near enough to where I need to go.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of disabled badge holders who feel the same, and many of them are actually going to Ilkley instead because it’s easier to shop.”

In its reply the city council points out that there are a number of disabled parking bays near the town centre, including four on Boroughgate.

Blue Badge holders can also park for free in Otley’s pay car parks – though none of those are directly beside the main shopping area.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said: “There are now more disabled parking bays in Otley than there have ever been.

“These include the new ones on Kirkgate, which are available seven days a week.

“However, if there is an issue for some badge holders accessing part of the town I am more than happy, as I have said to Mrs Berry, to ask Highways to look into the provision of an extra bay on Kirkgate.”

Mrs Berry said: “I’m not going to just accept the situation, I’m challenging it and would like to hear from anyone who wants to work together to change things, perhaps by getting a petition.”

She can be contacted on (01943) 467145.