PARKING KNOW-HOW

A Blue Badge doesn’t give you a free pass to park anywhere, so your first starting point is to look at the Government’s website to see where Blue Badge holders can park. This varies across the UK and devolved nations. Also read the guidance booklet that should come with your Blue Badge.

Council car parks are managed by local authorities and private car parks are unregulated and ran by private parking operators in-line with the terms and conditions which should be clearly signposted.

COUNCIL CAR PARKS AND BLUE BADGES

Always check the signs for time limitations and any restrictions. You can usually park free of charge in a disabled bay (on street or in a council managed car park) while clearly displaying a valid Blue Badge for as long as necessary. This also applies to on streets with parking meters and pay-and-display machines.

Blue Badge holders can park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours while clearly displaying a Blue Badge and parking clock set to the time of arrival if no disabled bays are available and there are no on-street parking bays.

You usually get a 15-minute grace period from the time you arrived, so always set your parking clock on your Blue Badge accurately in case you get a parking ticket. Don’t be afraid to appeal a parking ticket if you are minutes out of time, as disabilities are a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and can be used to legitimately appeal an unfair parking ticket.

Remember that Blue Badge holders cannot park in spaces reserved for others. This includes taxi bays and loading only spaces.

PRIVATE CAR PARKS AND BLUE BADGES

You may have to pay for parking in a private car park at a supermarket or hospital, which is immoral and unethical but not illegal. Check the signs in the car park as you are parking on private land and subject to the landowner’s terms and conditions.

Unclear and obscured signs are the most popular complaint with unfair parking tickets, so always appeal if you believe you have solid evidence to cancel it. Try and find somewhere that doesn’t charge for Blue Badge holders to park their cars and take your custom elsewhere.

I was frankly appalled when I was asked to assist with the following appeal, which is a real-life case in Manchester near Christies hospital.

I was taking my terminally ill neighbour who has bowel and bladder cancer for a medical appointment and had to park for a few minutes so she could urgently use the toilet. I received a Council parking ticket which has been rejected twice. Signs were hidden by trees. What should I do?

My advice if you are faced with the same scenario is to email the CEO of the Council and copy in the Leader of the Council, the Mayor and the news desk of your local paper (in this case it’s the Manchester Evening News).

This should be revoked immediately under the Equality Act 2010, which classifies cancer as a disability. This means that those with cancer are protected from discrimination.The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in wider society and disability is a protected characteristic. The fine breaches the Equality Act 2010 and should be cancelled immediately on that basis and to try and enforce it is legally, morally and ethically wrong.

I would identify those who are trying to enforce this parking ticket and lodge a formal complaint. Anyone who considers this behaviour acceptable ought to be subject to disciplinary action.