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Camden News - by SIMON WROE
Published: 10 July 2008

The Foxtons mini is snapped parking in a clearly marked ‘Disabled’ bay

OutFoxed! Estate agent’s mini caught out in exclusive location

Why is this car in a disabled bay? Property company says ‘sorry for any offence’

AN estate agent from the Hampstead branch of Foxtons is facing disciplinary action and the ire of disabled groups after forgetting the first rule of property sales – “location, location, location” – and parking in a disabled bay.
The firm’s distinctive fleet of jazzy mini coopers are hard to miss as they whizz around the borough’s streets, but the driver of this particular company car might have wished they were decorated with slightly less colourful branding.
Sticking out like a sore thumb in a bay in Savernake Road, Gospel Oak, which is clearly marked for disabled drivers, the car was caught red-handed on camera by a New Journal reader last Thursday.
No blue badge was displayed in the vehicle at the time.
Foxtons, which has recently opened a new branch in the old Design House in Parkway, Camden Town, have moved swiftly to condemn the incident as “unacceptable”.
The company has promised to “deal with the driver accordingly”, but the able-bodied rep – whose name and punishment will remain “an internal matter”, according to the estate agents – will have a hard sell on their hands trying to appease disability campaigners.
Labour councillor Roger Robinson, who lobbies on behalf of the rights of disabled people in Camden, said the Foxtons incident exemplified a lack of awareness about disabled people.
He said: “I don’t think the non-disabled set of our community is always aware of the disabled. They are part of the community and without these bays they cannot enjoy access to shops or restaurants or cinemas.
“We need much better action from parking wardens and from the council. There’s not as much parking for disabled drivers in London as there should be, and for non-disabled people to park in their bays is totally wrong. They should face legal action.”
Joy Palmer, a member of the Campaign Against Care Charges (CACC), lives opposite the bay on Savernake Road.
She had to get her disabled bay outside her house personalised because it was so often abused by non-disabled drivers.
“Parking is difficult enough around here,” Ms Palmer.
“If there is a bay outside a residential home then someone has requested that bay. I’m not aware that Foxtons has parked in mine but they could well have.
“I wouldn’t be surprised – Foxtons’ staff are young and young people are often not aware of disability equality training. It’s just being aware of other people’s needs. That’s all we’re asking for.”
A spokeswoman for Foxtons said: “We take this matter very seriously and unreservedly apologise for any offence caused.
“Foxtons agree this isolated incident was unacceptable and the driver has been dealt with accordingly.”

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