@emilyhstott

Issues over parking have left a disabled woman from Walmer feeling discriminated against by her neighbours.

Rosemary Potterill, who lives at Admiralty Mews, The Strand, says she has been fighting to get a disabled parking space near her home for over a year.

The houses are owned by the East Barracks Management Committee, a private company which took over the tenancy of houses where the navy hospital used to be.

Parking is also under control of the committee, which is made up of residents.

Mrs Potterill, 59, struggles with her mobility due to pancreatic problems and a fall which permanently damaged her back a number of years ago.

She has asked that one of the neighbours’ visitor spaces be swapped for hers, which is 500 yards from her front door.

She said: “Because of my disability problems I can’t easily get in and out of my car and if there is a car parked next to mine then it is nearly impossible for me to get out and I have to wait till a car isn’t there before I can leave the house.

“I did end up falling on my way to a doctor appointment as I could only open the car door a certain amount and my leg was caught in the door. I can’t lift my leg particularly well.”

After writing to the committee several times Mrs Potterill says she was informed that members would not be making any allowances for her reduced mobility.

“I’ve written to them since they rejected the idea. I said it is discrimination."

“If it was any other street the local authority would put in a disabled parking space outside my home but as it is private land they have no responsibility.”

Mrs Potterill said she has not yet received a positive reply from the committee.

However, a spokeswoman from the East Barracks Management Committee told the Mercury: “For the avoidance of doubt we would like to state that this request has not been refused, nor have there been any complaints made from fellow residents on this matter.

“This matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the committee in October, when we are hopeful that we can come up with an appropriate solution.”