Blue badge parking row escalates

The council said it does not know when its machines will be ready

A row has broken out over parking charges for disabled people across Bath & North East Somerset.

The council has axed free parking for blue badge holders in its car parks, but admitted machines do not meet the required standards for disabled people.

Labour MP Dan Norris criticised the decision, saying there was "a sense that this is distasteful and unjust".

Bath & North East Somerset Council (Banes) said the policy brought it into line with other authorities.

But it has no timescale for when ticket machines will be accessible and up to standard.

No fines

"We are waiting for the electricity company to turn the power off to do this," a council spokesman said.

"We are placing polite notices on blue badge holders parking in car parks at the moment, and not fining them."

The council also admitted it "could have better consulted" Wecil, the organisation it funds to facilitate consultations on disability issues.

Wecil chief executive Annie Davis said: "They pay for a mechanism for consultation which was not used.

"Disabled people must be consulted before changes are made. It is not fair to charge disabled people to pay and display."

Mr Norris is now launching his own consultation on the issue.

"Banes' failure to consult shows the council is oblivious of the strength of local opinion, so there is a need to properly seek local views on this issue. That is why I am making this survey available to residents," he said.