Blue badge charge case to proceed

A judicial review of parking charges for disabled drivers in Lincoln is to go ahead after an objection from the city council was withdrawn.

Matt Smith, 29, who has cerebral palsy, is angry that full charges are now applied for blue badge holders.

He claims the charges are unfair for people who are less mobile and need more time to get about.

The council said it now accepted that the case meets the minimum requirements to proceed to a full hearing.

Diversity pledge

Carolyn Wheater, head of corporate support services for the City of Lincoln Council, said: "The council, in acting reasonably and with the view to reducing costs to the authority as well as court time, has accepted that the case meets the minimal requirements to proceed to a final hearing.

"However, the council does not admit that there is a case for judicial review, or that the decision to charge blue badge holders to park was wrong or unlawful, only that the claimant has an arguable case."

Mr Smith's solicitor, Chris Fry, said he was pleased that the case will be heard.

"The first thing I'd like to say is thank you, on Matt's behalf, to the 1,200 people who signed his petition to demonstrate that the case did have the significant wider public importance that we said it did."

The council has argued that the charges bring them in line with other local authorities.

It has stressed that it is fully committed to equality and diversity.