DISABLED people pleading for parking spaces outside a lifeline shop have been told their wish may come true early in the new year.

The ShopMobility charity store provides free motorised scooters and wheelchairs to disabled shoppers in Accrington town centre for three hours.

It is currently hampered by the fact that there are no official bays where disabled badge holders can leave their vehicles.

Although there is one hour parking for about 14 cars on the stretch of road outside the premises, these can be used by all drivers.

So disabled people can not be guaranteed a convenient place to park.

Richard Day, chairman for the outlet, has renewed his plea to Hyndburn Borough Council to set up disabled parking bays outside. And John Schofield, technical manager for Hyndburn Borough Council, confirmed that four bays had been requested in April 2000 and that the transport and highways committee agreed in principle to two.

He added: "All of these types of requests come under the annual traffic regulation order because there are not the finances available to process them individually.

"They have now been passed by the area councils and will go to public consultation before they can go ahead.

"I would anticipate that we would be looking at the early new year before any work would actually be carried out."

Mr Day said: "We have members who come here on a regular basis from Rawtenstall, Burnley and Clitheroe as well as one lady who travels from Kent and depend on this service when staying with relatives.

"If we had four or even just two spaces outside the building it would make access for them so much easier."

If the site were to be given disabled parking bays the outlet would also be a step closer to gaining its Ministry of Transport certificate.

But there is no disabled badge holder parking within 40 metres at the moment.

Another complaint is that there are no signposts around the town to alert shoppers to the service.

Accrington ShopMobility first moved into the Whalley Road premises in March 2000 after being granted more than £24,000 by the town centre single regeneration board and ShopMobility officials asked Hyndburn Council for four parking spaces at that time.

Mr Day said that they were informed that two could be arranged but nothing had been done since then.

He added: "It always seems to come down to cost but we have done a tally of what our members actually spend while shopping and between April 2000 and April 2001 they spent more than £60,000 in Accrington."