A blind woman has hit out at the “shocking” parking arrangements at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre.
Sharron Taylor said her husband has been unable to claim a disabled parking space and they have been forced to park off-site and walk her two young children through the town to gymnastics classes because of the selfish motorists.
The problem has been compounded by other drivers parking on the pavement next to the centre, preventing her guide dog from assisting her to the front door of the £15 million centre.
Mrs Taylor told The Courier: “Two weeks ago, my little girl started gymnastics classes at the leisure centre.
“We tried to get parked in one of the disabled spaces and all of them were filled by cars, none of which had blue badges on display.
“I spoke to the staff and they told me that the council will be taking them over and that there was nothing they could do about it.
“The classes only started two weeks ago and they run until October. I had never been to the new leisure centre before and I just can’t get parked there.
“Then there are cars parked on the pavement and my dog can’t get past them either. It’s shocking.”
Parking at the leisure centre has been a controversial matter long before it opened its doors last September.
Constructed on the site of a popular town centre car park, concern had been expressed by councillors and retailers about the implications of placing the new pool on what was a well-used facility.
Despite the protests, planning permission was granted for the new pool in October 2009 with parking for the town centre deemed adequate to cope with the loss of the Tolbooth Street car park.
Since opening, the new leisure centre has been a hit with customers but cars are frequently seen parking on the pavement around the complex, with Fife Council now seeking a traffic regulation order which could soon result in traffic wardens patrolling the area.
A Fife Sports and Leisure Trust spokesman said: “As operators of Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre on behalf of Fife Council, the trust is making every effort to inform customers of nearby car parking, as well as public transport options, so that accessing the facility is made as convenient as possible.
“There are a range of public car parking alternatives which are within walking distance of the centre and staff are more than happy to give customers details.”
Photo by David Wardle