LAST week we drove into Maylord Orchards underground car park in Hereford and it wasn't until I had parked in a space and struggled out of my car as I am disabled, that we were greeted by a notice telling us the lift was out of order.

So not being able to use the stairs due to my disability, I went up to the mobility hire centre to enquire about what to do.

The people in the mobility centre were very helpful. First of all They told me I could use their scooter lift which does take you to street level outside by the bus stops.

But then they dropped the bombshell that the lift could well be out of order for several weeks.

My observations and comments were that For a start, the mobility centre/Maylord management, could put a 'lift out of order' sign at the entrance ramp to the car park, as had there have been a sign, we would have parked elsewhere where there would be wheelchair access to the only toilet in Maylords, as the toilets out by the bus stops have been closed.

The closure of the toilets has probably caused the lift breakdown due to the extra people using it.

I would have expected that leaving a week between visits would have seen the lift fixed.

With the pathetic amateurish signage being placed where people can only see it once past the ticket machines and, in the case of disabled people, having struggled out of their cars, (which for people like me, is the most painful part of the journey) they guarantee at least an hour's car park fee.

The two things that Maylord Orchard management needs to do is one, put a decent sign at the entrance to the car park so that disabled people can choose whether or not to use the stairs, and two, fix the lift now.

STEVE LLOYD Leominster