Milton Keynes Council sees the Extra Care homes as providing an important choice for older people to live independently. However most residents are active, many residents drive, and many could do with access to disabled parking. 

There are 223 parking spaces but only 22 of these, or under 10% are disabled bays. At present according to the Charitable Trust that runs the Extra Care home only 30 residents have Blue Badges. However technically the Blue badge scheme does not apply to off street parking. 

Following a recent incident where a disabled driver could not park and ended up falling as a result of having to park in a non-disabled bay local Councillor Zoe Nolan has become involved. 

Cllr Zoe Nolan

Cllr Nolan said,“I am a strong supporter of Extra Care villages, but given that many residents are disabled but still very active, though unable to walk far, there is a need for more disabled parking that is easy to park in and accessible for disabled people when getting out of their cars.” 

Cllr Nolan has been investigating. The Trust have been helpful, but have not yet agreed to increase the number of bays. She believes that any future new extra care villages or similar accommodation should have higher standards and numbers of disabled parking. 

She concluded,“New Council disabled bungalows have very good parking provision. I would like to see the Shenley Extra Care Village move more quickly on the number of bays provided and to commit to more bays in any future developments.”