Disabled parking spaces in the Market Place should go in order to improve the area for pedestrians and cyclists, Kingston Council has said.

The five disabled bays would be removed to make way for an extended pedestrianised zone in which the only vehicle access would be for loading between 6am and 10am and 4pm and 6pm Monday to Saturday, with no access at all on Sundays.

The Kingston Centre for Independent Living, Kingston's biggest disability organisation, is outraged at the council's proposals.

Administrator Robert Reilly said: "This will wipe out all accessability for disabled people and won't really have any effect on the parking issue in the Market Place because there will still be loading vans."

A consultation process is being drawn up on the suggestions in a report by Paul Drummond, head of highways and transportation at Kingston Council.

It states: "The loss of this facility is regretted and will undoubtedly cause strong objections because of its central location and convenience for the Market Place. Because there are disabled bays in Thames Street and Memorial Square, it is reluctantly recommended that the limited space available in this area be allowed for loading."

The Market Place was first pedestrianised in the summer of 2005, but the council has since received complaints that the car parking in the High Street end still creates hazards for pedestrians and cyclists.

The fire brigade has also expressed concerns that the parking blocks access for the emergency vehicles, particularly at night.

The council is now proposing that the pedestrianised area of the Market Place be extended 50 metres south to the junction with Eden Street, at a cost of around £5,000. Cyclists would still be allowed to ride along the west side of the Market Place.

Town centre manager Graham McNally said: "As a pedestrian, I would like the cars out, but as a person using the Market Place every day for business, it's very useful being able to quickly park the car and nip out and use the cash machines for example."

As another step in the planned revitalisation of the Market Place, the lead planters are also to be improved.

Mr McNally said: "We have some beautiful lead planters in the Market Place but the problem is that they are very soft so are easily dented when vehicles accidentally bump into them."

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