Out-of-town blue badge drivers might have to pay (From Echo)
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Out-of-town blue badge drivers might have to pay
11:00am Friday 30th December 2011 in Southend
John Merrett – “it would be so unfair”
DISABLED drivers could be charged for parking in Southend if they do not live in the town.
Southend Council bosses are investigating whether it would be possible to introduce fees for blue badge holders who use the authority’s car parks.
But the rule would only apply to disabled drivers from outside the borough, hitting shoppers and tourists the hardest.
John Merrett, a 75-year-old former paratrooper, visits Southend three or four times a week from his home in east London.
He badly injured his back as a young man when his parachute failed to open and has held a blue badge ever since.
Mr Merrett said: “I do not like the way the disabled are messed about.
“Paying to park because I do not live in Southend is unfair.
“The rules for the disabled should be the same all over the UK, not another chance to make money.”
At the moment, drivers with a blue badge can park in any of the council’s car parks without having to stump up for a ticket.
They are also allowed to park on double or single yellow lines if it would not cause an obstruction to do so.
Tory council chiefs agreed to look into the possibility of charging for parking in car parks, but not street parking bays, after Independent councillor Mike Assenheim argued they should not be exempted.
Although many councils across the country allow blue badge holders to park in their car parks for free, it is not a requirement of the Government scheme.
However, Mr Assenheim said the exemption should be retained for Southend residents, but scrapped for disabled drivers who do not pay their taxes in the town.
Tony Cox, Tory councillor responsible for transport, agreed to ask officers to investigate whether it would be a good move to introduce charges in Southend.
He said: “All I can say at the moment is that it is something we have agreed to look into.
“No doubt, in due course the officers will return with something and we can take it from there.
“It does not commit us to anything at the moment.”
Comments(22)
termite1944
says...
11:42am Fri 30 Dec 11
how folk are disabled is not the point, a disability is just that!
Southend shopping area is very poor so I suggest he tries Lakeside where the parking is free and as every town now has the same shops, what has he to lose!
alimac69
says...
11:43am Fri 30 Dec 11
Nebs wrote:And really kill off the High Street? Great idea!!
How about a congestion charge for everybody that lives outside Southend.
r6keith
says...
11:49am Fri 30 Dec 11
alimac69 wrote:Its already dead !
Nebs wrote: How about a congestion charge for everybody that lives outside Southend.And really kill off the High Street? Great idea!!
r6keith
says...
11:52am Fri 30 Dec 11
Southendracer
says...
12:10pm Fri 30 Dec 11
SARFENDMAN
says...
12:28pm Fri 30 Dec 11
EX RAMPTON MAN
says...
1:16pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Sweet P
says...
2:13pm Fri 30 Dec 11
bumper
says...
2:21pm Fri 30 Dec 11
why just ban the use of them in southend .
i moved out of the 5hit hole and
it was the best thing i ever did .
GentleGiant
says...
2:31pm Fri 30 Dec 11
So it is a non-starter.
Ross Kemp
says...
2:42pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Cllr Assenheim had experienced this situation in London (so those saying its a non starter obv have no idea because if one council can do it then so can another) and said it was unfair that southenders get charged and why cant we do the same here.
Cllr Cox said he had never heard about this scheme and would look into its feasibility, if it is going to happen it will happen a long way into the future and is justs an areaa which is being explored. I say well done on the council for exploring different areas and thinking outside the box but if as people have suggested it will prove detrimental to the high street then it should be dropped.
r6keith
says...
2:58pm Fri 30 Dec 11
RobertFS
says...
6:48pm Fri 30 Dec 11
A simple solution to bring back custom to the High Street.
Otherwise it's cheaper to drive to Lakeside or even Bluewater for better shopping.
Think about it councillors before the town dies!
timmus
says...
11:02pm Fri 30 Dec 11
maddriver
says...
11:34pm Fri 30 Dec 11
This is an idea which was researched by a council in the east Midlands and was rejected as unworkable with the badge in it's current form.
Since the badge is standard throughout the EU any alterations to make the badge holders more identifiable would need the approval of the European Commission.
maddriver
says...
11:35pm Fri 30 Dec 11
This is an idea which was researched by a council in the east Midlands and was rejected as unworkable with the badge in it's current form.
Since the badge is standard throughout the EU any alterations to make the badge holders more identifiable would need the approval of the European Commission.
gangsta len
says...
11:49pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Mr.Westham.
says...
2:07am Sat 31 Dec 11
Its bad enough in Basildon Council charging 50p for disbled parking in the town otherwise its wheelclamp followed by the towing guys with their grossly inflated bills, leaving a disabled person without any transport....
If they want to grab money, then lets lower the fat wages of the higher ups in the Councils instead
Mr.Westham.
says...
2:07am Sat 31 Dec 11
Its bad enough in Basildon Council charging 50p for disbled parking in the town otherwise its wheelclamp followed by the towing guys with their grossly inflated bills, leaving a disabled person without any transport....
If they want to grab money, then lets lower the fat wages of the higher ups in the Councils instead
Time
says...
4:35pm Sat 31 Dec 11
If a bluebadge holder can drive, fuel, and run a car, I see little reason they shouldnt stump up the cash for parking like the rest of us!
Or is it "I got a bad back I should be able to park anywhere for free"
Tackon
says...
5:08am Sun 1 Jan 12
Nebs says...
11:18am Fri 30 Dec 11