Disabled woman 'trapped' in home without parking

Emily Martins, a disabled woman living in south London, feels trapped in her flat due to inadequate visitor parking options. At 31, she relies on her mother’s mobility car for assistance with daily tasks but faces parking fines when her mother uses disabled bays. Despite having a Blue Badge, Martins cannot secure a resident permit because the vehicle is not registered to her address. She conveyed her frustrations to PA Housing, which assured her that parking would be available before she moved in. However, the landlord stated that they could not issue a permit as all ten disabled parking bays are allocated to residents.

PA Housing plans to review parking options for visitors when a space becomes available. This situation underscores the broader issues faced by disabled individuals in accessing necessary services and maintaining social connections. The local authority limited parking availability during the building's planning approval process, compounding the problem for residents like Martins.