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Last September, 61-year-old Michael Barry quit his job to become a full-time carer to his 87-year-old disabled father, David Barry.

Michael moved in with his father on Francis Street, Bargoed, to look after him, having left his job as an accommodation manager at University of South Wales.

David, an ex-paratrooper and former bus driver who has been registered disabled since a workplace injury in the 1980s, has recently lost his eyesight and is now registered blind and is wheelchair-bound.

Francis Street, like many other streets in Bargoed, has parking permits – meaning residents need to pay a £15 annual fee to park outside their house. However, Michael often struggles to find a spot outside his house.

“As soon as you move your car out, another car comes in its place,” said Michael.

It means that when Michael takes his father out somewhere, whether it’s to the shops or to a hospital appointment, he is often forced to park away from his house, making it difficult to get his father out of the car and back home – something which, due to David’s health, can take a bit of time.

To make matters worse, Michael says he has faced regular abuse from motorists while getting his father out of the car.

“My father gets upset, thinking it could boil over into a fight. It’s stressing him out and it stresses me out too,” Michael said.

“He’s at that age now and does get emotional about it.”

“I can’t go any faster than I do because my father has fallen over before. It’s hard work.

“I take him out about four times a week. He’s sat in the chair otherwise so I need to keep him on the move.”

Michael said most of the issues occur after 4pm, with the permits only in affect from 8am to 6pm between Monday and Saturday. Outside of this window, anyone can park anywhere without a charge.

“Some people are not too bad but some will be F’ing and B’ing – it stresses out Dad and worries him.”
Michael added: “My father has done everything for me. I just want to help make things easier for him now.”

Michael originally contacted Caerphilly County Borough Council for help in 2019, but said he was told he wasn’t eligible for a disabled parking bay because his father was not a full-time wheelchair user.

However, this has since changed – with David now in a wheelchair full-time.

But, according to the council’s website, traffic regulations such as parking permit areas can prevent an application being approved.

The council has told Caerphilly Observer it would take the change in circumstance into account as part of its review process.

What is the criteria for a disabled parking bay?

According to the council’s website, people who are permanent wheelchair users, in receipt of a valid permanent blue badge and are experiencing “significant parking difficulties” outside their home, may be eligible for consideration for an on-street disabled parking space.

If an applicant meets the criteria, they will be assessed by the council’s Highways department to decide whether or not it is possible to provide a disabled parking space.

However, road markings outside a property such as single or double yellow lines, bus stops, zebra or pelican crossings, proximity to junctions or being in a parking permit area stops an applicant being eligible – even if they meet all the other criteria, according to the council’s website.

Providing there are no objections, permission is sought from the Chief Constable to change the byelaws pertaining to highway where the spaces is proposed. If permission is granted, the parking place will be created.

It can take up to two years from the initial request until the bay is created.