Fury over scheme parking loss

Anger is intensifying over the loss of dozens of disabled parking spaces in Lichfield city centre while a £1 million paving scheme takes place.

A new route through the city centre, signposted as being for the disabled, has also been criticised.

There are just three operational disabled bays at the end of the route which starts in Bird Street.

It has also been described as dangerous as it goes against traffic flow and includes a normally pedestrianised part of the city.

Lichfield and District Access Group acting chairman James Carney said: "I am fed up of disabled people being classed as second-class citizens.

He said 20 disabled spaces in Bore Street were not in use to make way for market traders.

"Why should disabled people be penalised? Why should their spots be taken up by market traders?

Council development services leader Neil Roberts said: "We are looking at other ways to increase the number of disabled parking spaces whilst this first phase of the works take place.

"After this second phase the market should be reinstated to the refurbished Market Square by April."