DISABLED drivers and passengers who could lose their parking spaces to taxis mounted a street protest to get their message across to council planners.

With placards saying: "You want my parking space - do you want my disability?" Tony Palmer, Geoff West, Catherine Palmer, Denise Berry and Georgina Roberts sounded a rallying call to other people with disabilities who could lose out if the Burnley Council plan goes ahead.

They were joined by Burnley councillors Harry Brooks and Gordon Birtwistle.

It is proposed to use the disabled bays in Yorkshire Street, between Hall Street and Keirby Walk, as a rank for four taxis.

Speaking on behalf of disabled drivers and their passengers Geoff West, 61, of Hempshaw Avenue, Loveclough, said: "We are disgusted. There are not enough disabled parking spaces as it is at that end of town.

"We can park at the other end of St James Street, near ShopMobility, but there is no way we can travel from there to get to the shops near Keirby Walk.

"We can't park on the car park off Hall Street because there is no way we can get back up the hill. "

Tony, 54, of Moorland Road, Burnley, said: "I have already rung the council to complain. "Why has the council issued all those licences and not provided anywhere for the taxis to park, Burnley is not a city."

Geoff added: "We have fought long and hard to get disabled bays and we should not be having them taken off us for commercial purposes."

Coun Brooks said there was no mention of taxi rank for Yorkshire Street when the proposals were sent out for consultation but he was sure it would be thrown out when it came before council.

He said: "I will try to raise this issue at the development control committee tonight."

Coun Birtwistle said: "When these extra hackney carriage licences were granted, which we don't believe there is the business for, Coun Mozaquir Ali asked where the cars would park and he was told by chairman Coun Philip Walsh they would find somewhere. There is no provision."

Coun Brooks added that the problem had arisen because council did not have the guts to fight a minor court case over the refusal to grant a licence.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.