Permission to keep a mobility scooter in a retirement block

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.

www.scooterstoreltd.com

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