Uneasy in wheelchair

I arrived in Tower Street, Walsall, at around 6pm on a Thursday recently, full of excitement because I was invited to see a performance of Thatha at The Crossing at St Paul's, with my five-year-old grand-daughter, as part of Black History Month.

The five disabled bays were occupied, so I circled the one-way system twice till a bay become available half way up Tower Street. I dutifully parked and made my way, precariously, down Tower Street to Darwall Street, cautiously avoiding the loose stones in the newly paved area.

It was getting a bit dark and the area was rather desolate and scary. I wondered what it would be like when I had to come back at 10pm - a wheelchair user woman and a child. I began to get uneasy.

I needn't have worried though, because at 10pm, the night-time economy were out in their hundreds, all dressed up in costumes to celebrate Halloween and queuing en masse round corners.

I wheeled my way on the long journey back to my car with my granddaughter close to my side and wondered at the mass of cars that were now parked all over the pedestrian area.

"It's happened," I thought.ÊSeveral disabled parking bays were lost in Darwall Street to make way for pedestrianisation and what we have ended up with is that disabled people can't park there in the day, but able-bodied people can park there at night!

Needless to say, the performance of Thatha by Siyaya was fantastic. It was nice to see so many children in the audience. Well done to all those who brought it to Walsall.

Lynda Rowan, Blackthorne Road, Walsall.