Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 25 January 2008
Hopes of parking deal for carers
A CARER is one step closer to winning special parking rights for thousands in the borough who give up their time to look after others.
Jennie Loveday has been campaigning for a new deal for the 18,000 people who need to park outside the homes of the people they care for.
She has convinced Lib Dem environment chief Councillor Lucy Watt to consider running a pilot parking scheme which may be extended if successful.
Ms Loveday, who lives in Barnsbury and cares for her disabled uncle in Stonefield Street, off Richmond Avenue, has repeatedly been given parking tickets for stopping outside his house to drop off his shopping.
She said: “That means I only get five minutes with him on the step or have to drop off the shopping and go without even talking to him.”
Labour councillor James Murray, who is backing her campaign, said: “It’s not right that the council should target carers.”
But Cllr Watt said: “It is not true that I rejected the idea of a carers’ parking scheme, but further work is needed on the idea. “There are 18,000 carers in Islington, all with different parking needs, and there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution.”