I live in a retirement block in Bexley, outer London. I’ve had Parkinsons since 2010 and I feel I am reasonably succcessful living independently. I shop and cook for myself, and I do my laundry, keep the flat clean and so on. I will be 80 next year and I am beginning to be nervous about using buses. I have balance problems and use a walker/rollator outdoors. I can get to my GP and the chemist and a small supermarket easily walking. I can get to my consultant by train. But to have any real social life I am going to need a scooter.
I need somewhere to park it and charge it. This is a small block, 20 flats, with a garden area around it, a small car park, 8 spaces, and currently only one resident runs a car. He is wanting to give up his car and have a scooter instead.
We are being refused permission because ‘there is no suitable space available’. Is there anyone with experience of dealing with this sort of management company who can offer any advice about how to proceed?
Hello Mosie
I’m afraid I can’t help you much with your query as I don’t know a great deal about it but I wondered if you or the management company know about storage and charging options. There are several types including this one which the company claim fits under most windows. I wondered if there might be a space somehere around the building for such a store and that this may be acceptable to the management company. It’s just a thought.
However purely by chance when I was looking for a link for you, this came up. I haven’t read it fully but maybe you can use it to your advantage or at the very least you will have a better understanding of how they made their decision.
I hope you are able to find a way to resolve this to your satisfaction. It does seem a bit inflexible when there is car parking that is barely used it doesn’t allow for a mobility scooter to be seen as a car ‘alternative.’ By denying you the opportunity to have a mobility scooter they are curtailing your ability to be independent and I wouldn’t imagine that is what they want for their residents.
Good luck. I will be interested to hear how you get on.
Tot
We live in an Anchor Bungalow , there are 40 bungalows are on the site its called inderpendent living, now as most of us on the site (which is on top of a hill) as we get older need a motor scooter, they have all the rules and regs but no way can we charge our scooters up. Or any were to keep them, so mine is outside my bungalow with a cover and solid chain, to charge it up I have to remove the battery take it indoors and plug in, Don’t forget insurance is needed for you scooter, but again mine won’t cover you for theft after so many hours as I have to leave it out the front. Anchor has lots of care homes, flats, res homes, ect, and quote rules about having your scooter insured and seviced but they do not provide us with the things we need?
Thank you Tot and Mary1947. It is the sheer silliness of some of the regulations which makes me want to scream. I have been offered a parking place outside my flat, but it would only be about 4m from the side of the building. It has to be 6m away before I am allowed to charge it outside. I would have to take the battery inside my flat to charge it. They are very heavy, and I can’t do it. Entry to my flat from this area is up 2 steps and over a door sill, I can’t put in a slope because of the position of a manhole cover. I’ve been told I can bring a scooter into my flat on the level from the front door. In wet winter weather this will destroy the carpets and make me very popular with neighbours. The other resident who wants a scooter lives upstairs. Our lift is small and old. Residents with walkers have been asked in the past, to be very careful using the lift, ie they have been blamed for breakdowns. He will have to reverse either in or out. Happy days!