I WROTE a letter on the withdrawal of a disabled bay by the old lightship at Harwich Quay.

Councillor Smith of Harwich Town Council wrote in reply to inform me that there was still one disabled bay in this area.

Now rather than wishing to keep on continuing this debate, and certainly not using this paper as means of continuing, but as you may not be fully aware, but there has been a huge increase in blue badge holders.

This is due to changes in the blue badge scheme just a few months back.

That means those with invisible disability issues, can now apply for a blue badge.

So maybe a reader with hidden disabilities might like to take this opportunity to also reply to Mr Smith’s reply that there is still one and one only disability bay for use, by numerous blue badge holders.

What Mr Smith failed to answer is, why take away a bay that is now being used by a lot more blue badge holders?

Why not remove a normal parking bay, considering there are still another four bays for use for those with out disabilities?

Plus there are many more normal parking bays further along the front.

Sadly, another blue badge bay was removed a while back across the road outside the old Harwich Town Hall and Pier Hotel.

As I tried to point out, old Harwich Town is a favourite venue for those disabled people who come from other villages, towns and cities.

After all, the Mayflower came from Harwich, Harwich Old Town bathes in history, yet it has just one disabled bay for so many blue badge holders.

Maybe the Government should review the amount of blue badge bays for use in Harwich Old Town, as it seems to fall well short, compared to those who do not hold a blue badge.

Barry O’Connell

Saxstead Drive, Clacton