While the disabled parking outside the Rankin Street entrance is clearly marked to accommodate only two cars, three cars have been observed parking in this area on numerous occasions. 

Bathurst Regional Access Committee secretary Bob Triming said motorists often ignored the painted lines marking the positions.

“When this happens the middle car of the three is often at such an angle that it permits the car to traverse past the gutter over the required layback and end up on the footpath, endangering pedestrian lives,” he said. 

“If the car was parked at the correct angle, at least one tyre would hit the gutter, thereby prohibiting a normal driver from reversing further onto the footpath.”

He said when there were three cars parked illegally, it also prevented a person with a disability who required a greater distance at the side of their car, from exiting and re-entering their vehicle.

Mr Triming said he had received a telephone call two weeks ago from a person who had observed a driver reverse their car in between the two spaces until it was parked half way across the footpath.

“Luckily there were no pedestrians out the front of the club at the time,” he said. “This occurrence would not have happened if the driver had observed the parking laws.”

Mr Triming said he had notified police of the issue and had made a request at Bathurst Regional Council’s last meeting for council rangers to patrol the problem area. 

He said the issue was referred to council’s traffic committee after councillor Bobby Bourke said he had also seen a car parked halfway across the footpath in front of the RSL.

Committee chairman Councillor Warren Aubin said the committee, which includes police, council and RMS representatives, would look into the issue at its next monthly meeting. 

“With a problem like this the two authorities can look at whether we need better signage, or if more patrols should go through there,” he said.

Cr Aubin said he did not believe signage was an issue and said council’s parking officers had been alerted to the issue.

He said council would also look into whether more disabled parking spaces were required in the area.

“This is a dangerous thing for people to be doing,” he said.

 “We need to put a stop to this behaviour.”