CONCERNS that disabled visitors to this weekend’s Abergavenny Food Festival will be unable to park in the town’s Castle Street car park have been addressed by the chief executive of the event.

Earlier this week an announcement that Castle Street car park in Abergavenny was set to close for the duration of Abergavenny Food Festival sparked pre-event concerns about the availability of disabled parking spaces and access to Shopmobility scooters.

Coordinator of Shopmobility, David Overland, was surprised to discover as late as Monday evening that the Festival, which is expecting up to 30,000 visitors over the weekend, has planned to take over much of the popular car park whereas in previous years they had commandeered just the north end.

‘The first I knew about it was when I saw a map of the planned closure; I honestly don’t think I could be surprised any more,’ he stated.

A member of Friends of Abergavenny Shopmobility, Graham Preece, added, ‘It’s absolutely crazy, it amounts to discrimination against the disabled.’

However, Aine Morris, chief executive of the Food Festival responded, ‘Anyone who arrives to the road closure at St John’s Square displaying a blue disabled parking badge will be greeted by a steward who will walk their vehicle to a specially allocated disabled parking space directly next door to Shopmobility.

‘Shopmobility customers have been considered in our decision to use Castle Street Car Park and a solution has been put in place to make sure there is no disruption to normal service over the festival weekend.’

David Overland said he was made aware of the possible compromise solution on Tuesday. ’I just hope we can cater for the expected influx and that everyone, disabled and otherwise, can be accommodated,” he said.