Disabled slam parking bay misuse

The decision to drop a $120 fine issued to a City of Bunbury executive for parking in an ACROD bay has prompted an outpouring of public fury and has been criticised by the National Disability Services WA.

The Times last week revealed fines incurred by chief financial officer Wayne Wright for parking in an ACROD bay on a Saturday and City of Bunbury CEO Andrew Brien for driving in a nature reserve, had been withdrawn.

The public ACROD bay in question was in a small staff carpark on Prinsep Street at the council administration building.

Mr Brien said the bay “was not accessible to the public and was only ever intended to be used by people visiting the council”.

“As it was a weekend, and not in business hours, the bay would not have been in use,” Mr Brien said.

Mr Brien said the bay had been relocated. The issue has angered ACROD permit holders who say there is no excuse for parking in an ACROD bay without a permit.

Bunbury woman Shelley Leech had her right leg amputated after she was hit by a car 20 years ago.

Ms Leech said she was horrified to hear the fine had been dropped and believes there is no excuse for parking in an ACROD bay without a permit.

“I see it all the time, people park in ACROD bays thinking they’ll only be five minutes but in that time a disabled person might drive past who needs that bay,” she said.

“People who park in the ACROD bays should come and walk a day in my shoes and there are people who are far worse off than me.”

National Disability Services WA State manager Terry Simpson said it was disappointing a community leader had misused an ACROD bay.

“The ACROD parking program urges people to show greater consideration for permit holders and says if you are not a permit holder it is never OK to park in an ACROD bay, even if you are just running in for five minutes or using the bay to drop someone off,” he said.

The council has defended its decision to take no action on the fines, saying the executives followed the same appeals process as the public.

Mr Brien’s fine was dropped because there were no signs or fences indicating the bush reserve in Dalyellup was a nature reserve.