A WHEELCHAIR user is fuming after disabled parking bays at Clacton District Hospital were ruled off limits – so contractors could use them instead.

Barry O’Connell, 62, claims he was forced to park on the street because four out of six slots reserved for disabled people were out of action.

The former postal driver, who broke his back in three places four years ago, said the bays were taken up by a skip, contractors’ vans and heavy-duty metal fencing.

Disability campaigner Mr O’Connell could not use the normal parking bays because they do not leave enough room for his wheelchair.

Instead he was forced to park in the street and run the gauntlet of passing traffic as he tried to assemble his wheelchair.

Mr O’Connell, of Saxstead Drive, Clacton, claims he was told the contractors could not use the normal parking bays in case they posed a risk to the public as they removed hospital equipment.

He said: “Is it better to be hit by a bit of old carpet or lino or be squashed by a lorry in the road?

“It’s ludicrous. What upsets me is it’s an NHS property. I keep hearing people saying sorry, but I don’t want to hear that – I want to be treated with fairness and dignity.”

He has complained to NHS bosses.

Hospital manager John Mills said they were carrying out work to provide better facilities for people who came for blood tests.

He added: “To ensure this building work can be carried out safely, and mindful to any possible risks to the many people whovisit the hospital, we have had to temporarily relocate two of the six disabled parking bays from their usual location to the main car park.

“Anyone familiar with the hospital site will know space is at a premium so it is difficult to carry out essential improvements without causing some inconvenience elsewhere.

“By relocating the two disabled parking spaces to the main car park, we have done all we can to minimise this inconvenience.”