A LOCAL pensioner is fuming after Bournemouth borough council blocked off seven disabled parking bays in the heart of the town centre.

Pete Woodley, 70, has heart problems and can't walk more than a few metres without getting breathless.

He regularly uses the marked disabled spaces at the top of Commercial Road on shopping trips into the town.

But on his last visit, he was shocked to find all the bays fenced off due to construction work in the area.

"I knew nothing about it," said Mr Woodley, who lives in Turbary Park in Bournemouth.

"I didn't see any notices up at all. I've only got half a heart and I can only walk about 10 yards at a time.

"But there are probably people much worse off than me who won't be able to go shopping here now either."

Bournemouth council says the bays have had to be fenced off for around three months during a major construction project opposite Marks and Spencer on Commercial Road.

A row of old 1960s shops have already been demolished and are set to be replaced with four new shops over the coming months, while the pedestrian area is also being revamped.

Geoff Turnbull, engineering services manager at Bournemouth council said: "Due to construction works and general repair to the area we regret that the seven disabled parking spaces at the top of Commercial Road pedestrian precinct will not be available for use.

"Notices informing members of the public of this temporary closure are posted around the area and details of where the nearest disabled parking spaces are will appear shortly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time."

The nearest alternative spaces for disabled shoppers are Avenue Road multi-storey car park and two spaces at the bottom of Commercial Road precinct.

Mr Turnbull added: "The disabled spaces in the Avenue Road car park are grossly underused at the moment and we are directing disabled drivers there during the work."

All seven spaces at the top of Commercial Road will be reinstated when the work is complete, he said.

First published: May 7