Blind man wants action over illegal town parking

Friday, 28 August 2009

A man who lost his eyesight 10 years ago has hit out at the local authorities for turning a blind eye to illegal parking issues in Narberth.
Fifty-five-year-old Daniel Duckfield, who has lived at The Crescent for the past five years, has spent most of that time lobbying for Pembrokeshire County Council, local MPs and the police authorities to crack down on motorists who park illegally in the town and cause hazards on pavements and footpaths to blind people like himself, disabled persons and pedestrians in general.
“Narberth is the finest town in Wales as far as I am concerned; it has some of the finest shops in the world and the nicest people in Great Britain, but it is most definitely the most dangerous town for elderly, disabled, blind people and children, too, when it comes to hazardous parking issues,” explained Mr. Duckfield, who lost his vision after a medical problem in hospital.
However, Mr. Duckfield feels like his campaign to rid the town of inconsiderate motorists is going unnoticed, forcing him to take matters into his own hands, which landed him in hot water with the law only last week.
“One morning I went down the town to do my shopping with my guide dog and on Commercial Corner I came face to face with a large car parked across the pavement, making myself and my guide dog walk on the road,” he said.
“When I returned later there were more cars illegally parked there, which made me see red. When I got home, I ’phoned the police and told them that I had been ’phoning almost every day to try and get them to do something and, as no one was doing anything, I would take the law into my own hands this time and let the tyres down of any car that was still there and write ‘no parking’ on their windscreens with a felt tip pen,” he continued.
The local police, though, didn’t take Mr. Duckfield’s remarks lightly and arrested him, taking him to Haverfordwest police station to be interviewed, before being released with a caution for making threats to cause criminal damage.
“The experience I went through has shocked and upset me very much, but the incident is the only way I feel that someone will listen,” said Mr. Duckfield.
“I am arrested for saying things on the ’phone and the culprits are getting off scott free, I am being punished for their actions, which is wrong.
“I shall continue this if necessary, including standing in the middle of the one-way road system and bringing the whole town to a stop. My actions will continue until someone takes notice or I am dead, whichever comes first,” he vowed.
Local county councillor Wynne Evans has spoken to Mr. Duckfield about his plight and arranged a walkabout of the town, along with MP Nick Ainger and the head of county council’s street care department,
“Mr. Duckfield highlighted a number of issues with regard to getting about the town and the problems he encountered due to his blindness, ” said Clr. Evans.
“I am sympathetic to the problems he and many other people face in the town, those in wheelchairs and buggies etc; that is why I have dramatically increased the number of drop kerbs in the town.
“In relation to illegal parking, there is no excuse for that whatsoever, nor the senseless way some motorists illegally park, blocking moving flow of traffic,” he continued.
“A little while ago I went around the town with Insp. Andrew Phillips of the traffic police, and we both noted some disturbing parking in all streets of the town.
“Since then, the local police, along with traffic wardens, have been proactive in issuing parking tickets. We do not have a full-time parking warden, and even when the county council take on board the decriminalisation for parking enforcement, we in Narberth would still have to share the warden with other towns and villages close by.
“At present, illegal parking falls within police powers, and all the issues Mr. Duckfield has raised are valid, but unfortunately there is no quick-fix solution, except to continue to issue parking tickets without any favouritism to business people etc.,” added Clr. Evans, urging people to utilise the town’s free car park.

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6 comments on this news item

Posted by : Duncan, Narberth | Tuesday 01/Dec/2009 | Report this comment

Wee see enough parking attendants patrolling the high street and adjacent streets in Narberth, why cant the parking attendants spot the clear illegality of the parking as well as the safety risks on people such as Mr Duckfield. If no other obvious solution is approached, I’m sure a few parking fines would solve the problem if it persists.

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Posted by : felix, Pembroke | Sunday 06/Sep/2009 | Report this comment

GoodLuck to Mr D in his quest and shame on the Police- if we ever thought that the Polices’ main priority was the protection and safety of human life -well-from this its pretty clear CARS (and other types of property) COME FIRST :( actually thinking some more about it - It also shows that the law is SO draconian on anyone trying to protect themselves - yobs go free, a pensioner says BOO -jail!

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Posted by : Jim , Victoria Australia | Friday 28/Aug/2009 | Report this comment

Perhaps you could make Mr Duckfield an honorary parking attendant or special constable. The best of luck to him

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