I returned from a council workshop tonight to find tomorrow’s Guardian newspaper in my letterbox. On the front page, I am quoted as saying I am embarrassed that Palmerston North features on caughtya.org, “the international “hall of shame” website to expose people parking illegally in disability and mobility parking spaces”. The reported comment is accurate - I do find it embarrassing for the city that the single largest number of entries on that website are from Palmerston North.

From the PNCC press release: “SUPERMARKETS TOLD TO POLICE DISABILITY PARKS “

Palmerston North’s Mayor has written to local supermarkets asking them to be more vigilant about the misuse of mobility car parks.

Mayor Heather Tanguay was disappointed that supermarket representatives didn’t attend a forum organised this week by the Disabled Person’s Assembly to address the abuse of mobility parks by able bodied motorists.

She says the problem is growing and a recent survey has found that 50 percent of vehicles occupying mobility parks did not display mobility parking permits.