Friends 0f the Manx Diabetes Centre

Following the article in the last issue of The Diabetic , some of you have complained to the pertinent authorities for redress.

However The Diabetic understands that the Manx Diabetes Centre was initially approached by the Department of Transport and that the Centre forwarded them a copy of The Diabetic.

Mr B W Hannay the Director of Highways wrote to the Editor of The Diabetic on 15 th June last, explaining amongst other things, the 30 minutes parking situation for disabled people in Regent Street .

It is only right that before The Diabetic comments, that we should publish verbatim the contents of Mr Hannay's letter to The Diabetic, so that you are all aware of the official answer from the Transport Department. We quote: -

“Dear Mr Ramagge

Parking Restrictions Regent Street Douglas .

I have been advised that you are the author of an article in “the Diabetic” for June 2005 headed “New parking restrictions for the disabled”. If you are not the author, I apologise, and ask that you pass this letter to the author.

Turning to the article, the Department are mystified at the allegation that the parking times have been changed, and in particular that no notice had been given. (We are required by Law to give Public Notice of any changes to the conditions of any parking restriction, unless imposed by Emergency Notice for a short period for safety reasons).

The fact that following the pedestrianisation of Regent Street in July 2000 the disabled parking spaces directly outside the Post Office were moved onto the Loch Promenade. At a later stage representation was received from the Guild for Disabled Drivers that there should be a short-term facility within Regent Street for the disabled to visit the Post Office.

It was accepted by all concerned that disabled parking for shoppers in Douglas Town Centre was available in the Drumgold Street Car Par, and on the Lock Promenade.

The time restrictions for the disabled parking spaces in Regent Street have had a maximum of 30 minutes (with no return for 1 hour) since 2000 and the Department has no plans to change the restriction since it provides the appropriate turnover of parked vehicles within the 3 parking spaces provided.

We were not aware of problems arising from the post adjacent to the disabled parking bay, but this matter has now been referred to our traffic engineers to resolve.

Finally I should advise you that for able-bodied drivers parking in disabled parking spaces to be fined up to £500 the offence has to be enforced by a police constable. At present parking offences are enforced by traffic wardens who issue Fixed Penalty Notices.

My Department is presently: -

(i) seeking to introduce its own parking controllers to supplement the traffic wardens and increase parking enforcement.

(ii) Bringing legislation to create an additional category of Fixed Penalty Notice with a higher rate fine for more serious parking offences, such as parking restrictions on disabled spaces.

Yours sincerely

B.W. Hannay

Director of Highways

he Diabetic is most grateful for the time that Mr Hannay has taken to research and answer the article, and it is therefore not our intention to take his paragraphs seriatim and point out, and