Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has written a letter of complaint about the lack of disabled parking spaces in the Lower Church Street and South Street area of the town.

This follows the introduction of a residents' parking scheme.

Town Council chairman, and Ashby Mayor, Graham Allman says there is also a concern over parking for weddings and funerals at St Helen's Church when Coronavirus restrictions are eventually eased.

Cllr Allman says that disabled access close to both St Helen's and the Lyric Rooms venue has been made more difficult.

He adds that, while there is use of the South Street car park, it is too far away for anyone with disability issues.

Cllr Allman has responded to a letter from Leicestershire County Council over initial concerns about the parking bay.

In the letter, the Council says that blue badge holders can park on the double yellow lines for a maximum of three hours.

But Cllr Allman has issued another response to the explanation with a further letter which was approved meeting of the Town Council's planning and transportation committee which held before Government guidelines were introduced Ashby de la Zouch Town Council

Cllr Allman, who requires disabled parking, wrote: "A blue badge holder is allowed to park on single or double yellow lines for maximum three hours. 

"However, the area of Lower Church Street and South Street does not have double yellow lines except where in some places parking is restricted by the loading and unloading rules.

"There is a small area of road that has double yellow lines close to South Street car park, however if a resident is parked there with a permit quite legally, parking on the double yellow line would potentially cause an obstruction to other vehicles and emergency vehicles, and the vehicle could be removed by the police.

"The residents of Wood Street who used to park on Lower Church Street are now left with nowhere, within reasonable walking distance of the property, to park their cars.

"There is also a problem with parking for funerals and weddings. Also like myself choose Saint Helens as my favourite place of worship, yes, temporary permits are provided by the church, however, this would necessitate me leaving my vehicle which would be an offence to go into the church and fun person responsible for issuing the temporary permit.

"This, due to my mobility issues would cause me great pain and even possibly a heart attack or even mortality. Do you have any further comments to make in response?"