A MAN living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has spoken of his struggle of getting around his local area on his powered wheelchair due to inconsiderate parking and a lack of dropped kerbs.

Frustrated Gavin Camm, 48, who lives in Low Moor, says going on even the most simple journey can be fraught with obstructions.

Becoming so angered at the situation, he has resorted to posting photographs on social media to show the extent of the battle he faces.

The father-of-two said: “For able-bodied people and car drivers, it’s just no thought.

“It doesn’t come into their mind that they could be blocking a disabled person or a blind person.

“It’s just a case of ‘let me park my car safe’ - that’s all they’re thinking.

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“If a car is parked on the pavement, I just can’t get past. I have to change my full route to get to where I need to go.

“And then sometimes, that area is blocked by a car, or another obstacle, and I can’t go that way, so it’s just a case of coming home.”

Many of the pictures show cars parked nearly completely on the pavement, leaving no room for his wheelchair to get through.

I’m strapped in, so I would hit the road, simple as that. My head would hit the road. I wouldn’t be able to get back up again" - Gavin Camm, powered wheelchair user

The former warehouse manager then faces the added worry of being unable to navigate the kerbs.

It’s an issue he has raised with Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe, but was told the Bradford South dropped kerb waiting list exceeds £200,000 - with a budget of only £5,000 for this year. Mr Camm’s illness, which he was struck down with five years ago, means he is already restricted to where he can travel.

On one occasion, passers-by had to lift his wheelchair down the kerb so he was able to cross the road. And if he goes to the shops, he has to go with one of his sons to ensure he doesn’t flip over in his wheelchair.

“I’m strapped in, so I would hit the road, simple as that.

“My head would hit the road. I wouldn’t be able to get back up again.”

In an email to Mr Camm, Cllr Hinchcliffe said: "Officers are continuing to prioritise dropped crossing installation sites to deliver the widest community benefit, but we are faced with a significant task in improving overall provision."

She added that there is an ongoing process to ensure any new developments are fully accessible and "we will continue to seek alternative funding sources to allow improvement works at a greater number of locations".

Chief Inspector Mark Long of Bradford District Police, said: “Inconsiderate and poor parking not only causes issues in communities, but potentially increases the dangers to all road users, including pedestrians.

“Our neighbourhood policing teams in Bradford District work with partners in local authorities to take action against those committing offences and carry out targeted operations where issues are raised. Anyone with concerns about inconsiderate and poor parking in their community is advised to report matters to their local NPT by using the contact options on the My Neighbourhood page of the West Yorkshire Police website.”

Meanwhile, Bradford Council said it can only take action against vehicles parking illegally when there is a Traffic Regulation Order in force and signs in place, like yellow lines or notices.