Disabled parking spaces in Kingston town centre have been moved to make room for new planters.

Three Blue Badge bays on Thames Street, near Kingston riverside, are now taken up by wooden planters and seating.

To compensate for this, two pay and display parking spaces on 23 Fife Road have been converted into Blue Badge spaces.

There is also additional disabled parking provision on Thames Street but this is only open between 5pm and 10am.

The new planters and seating is part of a 'social spaces' scheme by Kingston First and Kingston Council which aims to help revitalise the town centre and make it a pleasant area for people to visit.

But Kingston residents were angered by the loss of disabled parking spaces when the scheme opened last month.

In the Kingston Neighbourhood Group on Facebook, Karen Penny wrote: "Great news! Planters ensure blue badge spaces and disabled access are lost in Thames Street.

"Well done Kingston First and to RBK for giving in to their whims. Disabled people once again thrown under the bus."

Resident Sophie Ugle also expressed her concern.

She said that disabled parking bays allow her daughter Rachel to enjoy the town centre and riverside.

She explained: "Being able to park close to shops, River, events, is essential, in case we need to get back to the car, to return home."

Responding to a request from Nub News for comment, a spokesperson for Kingston First said the organisation had consulted with accessibility groups and businesses about the proposals.

"It's clear how vitally important this area is for access to the riverside, shops, services and community facilities," they said.

"The feedback was given careful consideration and as a result it was ensured that disabled parking was retained in Bishop's Hall, and additional provision was made in Thames Street and Fife Road.

"The scheme involves the closure of part of Thames Street to enable it to become a pedestrian and cycle only zone, from 10am to 5pm every day.

"Blue Badge holders will still be able to enter the area in order to access the existing 4 blue badge parking bays in Bishops Hall at all times of the day.

"The Council has converted two pay and display parking bays outside 23 Fife Road to blue badge parking.

"The first part of Thames Street remains open at all times, and has loading and disabled parking bay provision.

"Three bays will be available for blue badge parking between noon and 10.30pm, with a maximum stay time of three hours.

"There is also space for two additional spaces within the scheme area outside of the operational hours of 10am to 5pm.

"The reallocation of disabled spaces impacted by the scheme is also intended to include the provision of bays within the Guildhall complex, as they are close to the town centre.

"At present they can be accessed at weekends and evenings and we are striving to extend this to include the whole of the weekdays.

"This scheme is an experiment that can be in place for up to 18 months.

"There are surveys on Kingston Council's Let's Talk engagement platform and we welcome people sharing their views, experiences and suggestions about these temporary measures: https://kingstonletstalk.co.uk/thames-street-and-social-spaces"

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