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In the past 12 months, there have been 21 applications for disabled parking spaces submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council, many of which are still being processed.

The council has told Caerphilly Observer it can, in a worst-case scenario, take up to two years- but no-one has been able to explain why the process can take this long.

Gwent Police, which is consulted in the process, admitted it had no standard processes in place when assessing applications.

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 of Gwent Police to change the parking laws in the area where the space has been requested. If permission is granted, the parking place will be created.

However, Gwent Police said it makes its decisions on a “case by case basis with no standard process”.

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

“Worst-case scenario”

The two-year wait mentioned on the council’s website is “very much a worst-case scenario”, according to the council.

The spokesperson said: “The process is quite complex. Sometimes further physical assessment is required of the applicant following receipt of the completed self-assessment questionnaire.

“A TRO (traffic regulation order) has to be applied for and agreed, consultation has to take place with the local constabulary, the matter must be advertised in the local press as well as signage placed in the locality. 

“This gives other residents the opportunity to raise objections should they so wish, which they frequently do. Any such objections have to be investigated and responded to.”

However, the council was unable to say what the average waiting time for a disabled parking bay is.

“This can be the difference in many disabled people actually going out or not”

“We think that waiting two years for a disabled parking space is very negative and has a big impact on disabled people,” a spokesperson for Disability Wales told Caerphilly Observer.

They continued: “Disabled people with mobility problems require close parking to their homes so they can go out and about like non-disabled people.

“If they have to have to park a distance from their homes, this can be the difference in many disabled people actually going out or not. This is especially true for disabled people who live alone or are the main drivers as they cannot rely on someone else dropping them closer.

“Disabled people’s lives are often put on hold while waiting for a disabled parking space. A disabled parking space can be the difference between being independent or not.

“While we understand local authorities are very busy, we believe priority should be given to improving accessibility and inclusion.”

The people affected

Last month, Caerphilly Observer published a story about 61-year-old Michael Barry, who 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 last September, and has applied for a disabled parking space outside their house because of the difficulty they face trying to find a space to park in.

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.