A heated dispute has erupted between an Alzheimer's support group and a doctors' surgery in Gloucestershire regarding the use of its car park.

For two decades, the Alzheimer’s café, which meets monthly, has enjoyed the benefit of using the car park at Price's Mill Surgery in Nailsworth as a goodwill gesture. But the surgery has now declared that parking will be restricted to staff and patients only, a policy change attributed to an "increase in appointments being offered."

The café’s organizers are concerned that this decision could deter attendees. They have launched a petition advocating for continued access to the parking lot, which has already garnered over 140 signatures.

The disagreement escalated several months ago when Alzheimer’s café attendees returned to find stickers on their cars cautioning them against parking in the surgery lot. Café host Richard Bert expressed frustration, stating, "Since then, we have spent the last three months trying to negotiate with them just to maintain our long-standing arrangement. Our attendance has already dropped by 50% as people worry about parking availability. These attendees are often elderly or caring for loved ones with dementia, making accessibility crucial."

Mary Lee, who brings her husband Ray, diagnosed with dementia, to the café, echoed these concerns. She stated, "If I can’t park at the surgery, I simply won’t be able to attend at all."

In response, Price's Mill Surgery issued a statement clarifying that they did not intend to negatively impact the café's attendance, but emphasized the necessity for the car park to be fully available for their patients and staff. They also noted that there is free public parking available throughout Nailsworth.

This clash highlights the ongoing struggle many community groups face in securing essential resources, especially for vulnerable populations such as those dealing with dementia.