I felt that I had to respond to a recent letter (Double Trouble, April 19) published in your paper.

While I do sympathise with Mr Rose in respect of the difficulties in trying to find a disabled parking space at York Hospital, he should know the rules of being a holder of a blue disabled badge.

As a disabled person and one who attends York Hospital, I find it increasingly difficult to find a disabled parking space.

However, if I cannot locate a space then, like other drivers, I have to park in a normal parking space.

Yes, it frustrates and angers me when I pass designated disabled bays to see them occupied by "non badge holders", but this does not give me the right to park where I like.

The blue badge comes with rules and regulations which we must adhere to. This means not parking where we would block loading bays or exits and entrances.

I would have thought Mr Rose would have realised he would be causing a problem for ambulances to gain entry and exit from the premises.

I know the hospital well, and the parking at the main entrance at present is very tight. It is bad enough to drive a car through when people park correctly, never mind an ambulance trying to fight its way past vehicles badly parked.

Every single time I have had to attend York Hospital, the parking staff have fallen over themselves to help me out.

There have been times, on seeing my daughter struggling to get my wheelchair out of the boot, when one of the parking staff has come over to help. One even helped repair a broken wheel on my wheelchair so I could carry on with my hospital appointment.

Mrs Stacey Churchill,

White Rose Avenue,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 09:57 Wednesday, April 26, 2006