Paul Bibby
Byron Council is set to review disability parking arrangements in the Byron Bay CBD, after it emerged that the disabled parking spots next to the Mercato shopping centre did not have access to the footpath.
Greens councillor Michael Lyon will move a motion at this week’s Council meeting, which would see an investigation into whether adequate disabled parking exists to meet demand across the CBD.
It would also examine whether or not the current disabled spots have appropriate footpath access.
Cr Lyon said in his notice of motion, ‘There has been concern expressed around the disability parking spaces outside the Mercato building and the lack of footpath access for these spots.
‘It is understood that the decision to allocate these spaces was made after the landscaping and gutter work, and consequently, no budget existed to provide the footpath access.
‘Upon further investigation, it has been relayed that there is not enough disability parking in much of the CBD.
‘I am asking for a review so that we can determine the current state of affairs, when budget may be available for the spaces at Mercato, any interim arrangements and any shortfalls in disability parking provision in the CBD.’
In comments attached to Cr Lyon’s motion, Council traffic engineer, Andrew Pearce, said Council did not have a record of all disabled parking spots in the Byron CBD.
This meant that any review would need to be undertaken as part of routine footpath and road inspection works.
