OPPOSITION to the county council's plans to remove disabled parking on Market Place and Finkle Street believe they may have a legal argument to prevent the trial from taking place.

Shirley Alker organised a petition opposing the trial which would see the spaces taken away and disabled people given the option of parking in duel-use loading bays on Stricklandgate and Highgate between 11am and 4pm.

Ms Alker now says she has learned that, in 2011, a solicitor wrote to the council on behalf of blue badge holders who opposed a proposal to limit use of the parking on Market Place and Finkle Street to three hours at a time and quashed the move.

Minutes from a council meeting in 2012 report that the solicitor cited the Road Traffic Act 1984, which states "It shall be the duty of the Local Authority to secure the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway."

Ms Alker said: "The council are proposing to reduce parking for blue badge holders from 24 hours to five hours. It it was illegal in 2011 it is illegal in 2018.

"If we are limited to those times how can we go for a meal in the evening? It means we don't have access to many things in the town centre."

Ms Alker's petition has been gaining support, and now numbers more than 500 signatures. It is available to sign in churches around the South Lakes area.

Ms Alker said that a meeting occurred with the solicitor who wrote to the council in 2011 with blue badge holders attending at the shop mobility shop.

She is appealing for anybody who attended that meeting to contact her.

Anyone wishing to help can contact her on 01539 727004. She explained that you will need to state your name and why you are ringing her to her answering machine before she is able to pick up.