AN EDINBURGH restaurant has issued a complaint after a disabled customer allegedly came close to falling into the Forth of Firth River amid “nightmare” parking issues.
The Old Chain Pier issued the complaint after a series of parked cars blocked access to the restaurant for a wheelchair user who was forced to park up a hill due to no space for his vehicle.
The anonymous wheelchair user was allegedly left to wheel dangerously down the Trinity Road hill, later sharing with staff how this had resulted in him almost flying into the river.
The restaurant in Newhaven has now contacted Edinburgh City Council for better marked parking bays but holds out hope that customers will be more vigilant with parking.
Images show the restaurant overlooking the Forth of Firth estuary with its parking situation out front.
The cars appear to be parked on top of the faded bay lines and are very close to one another.
Behind the parked cars are unfilled spaces which are partly covered but do not appear to leave enough room for other vehicles.
The dropped kerb on the pavement, where disabled wheelchair users may approach the restaurant, are somewhat covered by the parked cars.
Manager Jan Watson, 33, later took to social media to share the shocking incident, pleading with customers to practice better parking.
She wrote in the post: “We’ve held off saying anything for a while now but after a disabled customer had to wheel themselves down Trinity Road, and nearly ended up in the water, we felt we had to speak up.
“Please, please, please be considerate to other drivers when parking, not just outside Old Chain Pier, but everywhere.
“Park as close to the edge of the bays as possible and don’t leave half a space between you and the next vehicle.
“We could have had another four cars in the bays pictured, and the ones on the other side of the street were just as bad.
The concluded the post as they pleaded with customers: “Parking in Edinburgh is enough of a nightmare as it is, please don’t make it worse. Thank you.”
The post received over 380 likes and dozens of comments from shocked customers who gave their support to the concerned restauranteur.
Shay Amber Davies wrote: “Problem is, it depends on what cars were there before.
“Possibly there was an estate before the wee car on the right went in, for example. Without delineated bays, this will always happen.”
Shelagh Mckinlay commented: “My goodness why are people getting so riled up about this post?
“In the end it is a request to park considerately, that’s all. If you feel you already do, good for you but we all know not everyone does.
“I don’t see what’s wrong with a business making a plea for people to consider access issues.”
Cara Eunson added: “Unless you have dedicated bays (not sure if this is something you can request through the council) then this will always happen unfortunately.
“You need to factor in what cars were there before and what kind of space that left incoming cars.
“I agree that there’s more than enough space for extra vehicles in those pics but there’s no way to tell if the space taken up by outgoing vehicles resulted in some of those cars parking in the manner that they did.”
In an updated post, the restauranteur shared that two parked cars had somehow ended up smashed into each other.
Jan now believes that this was a deliberate act as a result of the warning that had been previously issued to customers.
Speaking to Jan today she said: “Parking down at Trinity Road, Newhaven has always been difficult as is the whole of Edinburgh and since parking restrictions have been brough further into Leith it’s got worse.
“A few staff members park there, and customers have made comments that it’s difficult getting parked.
“It’s never happened before that someone who is disabled has had to walk a massive distance and I felt that after this one particular customer – who was in good spirits, to be fair – just had to come all the way down from Trinity Road.
“There’s not much we can do but people [should be] parked more considerately. Around the corner of us is quite a steep hill.
“Every day you go by, and you can see someone who is [parked wrongly].
“The one I have issues with are the ones who leave half a bay or a car length of space, so the cars are all nose-to-nose but if someone parks too far in from the edge then they’re not leaving enough space and that has a knock-on effect on everyone.
“Anyone with a severe disability wouldn’t be able to come in. People that can maybe go up a few steps can.
“The gentleman in question was able to get down four stairs out of his chair, assisted, but anyone that maybe couldn’t walk or come that distance wouldn’t be able to come in and see us.
“It’s about parking in general and being more considerate – thinking about people with disability issues.”
Jan added that she has now contacted Edinburgh City Council and believes that the council should have more marked bays.
She said: “Having marked bays – little white lines – that show the parking bays and guide them into spaces instead of parking wherever they like.
“We’ve reached out to the council to see if there’s anything they can do.
“Yesterday morning, we posted again online. There’s two sets of cars that have been crashed into each other.
“Looks as though someone has taken offence and has shoved the cars into each other. Six o’clock in the morning it happened and I’ve no idea how they’ve done it.
“They’re saying it’s been a drunk driver but it seems like they’ve been on a mission in response to our [social media] post. I couldn’t believe it yesterday.”
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Scott Arthur, said:“Every driver is responsible for parking their vehicles considerably and safely, so they don’t block access for other vehicles or cause an obstruction to the road or pavement.
“We know that too often when this does not happen it is our most vulnerable citizens that pay the price.
“I would be happy to work with the The Old Chain Pier restaurant if they would like a space for blue badge holders installed at their premises.”
