Crackdown on disabled bays misuse

The council wants to ensure disabled spaces are left for blue badge holders

South Lanarkshire council is pressing ahead with a campaign to come down harder on motorists who wrongly park in disabled spaces.

Proposed legislation that will make it easier for councils to fine offenders is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.

The council has launched a new campaign encouraging drivers to "Be fair" and consider the needs of disabled people.

Adverts will appear on buses and billboards throughout the county.

The local authority is working with disability organisations, supermarkets, police and the procurator fiscal in a bid to regulate parking more effectively.

Cllr Denis McKenna, chair of the equal opportunities forum, said: "We were keen to take steps now to protect parking spaces for disabled people as it can be very distressing when they arrive at their destination and simply have to turn back because people have used spaces they were not entitled to."

If I've no space to get my chair in and out of the car I need to turn round and go home Geraldine Gray Wheelchair user Disabled parking law wins backing

"We are keen to bring everyone together - particularly in the run up to Christmas when parking spaces can be very busy - and encourage all drivers to 'Be fair' and leave disabled bays for blue badge holders."

Wheelchair user Geraldine Gray, who chairs the South Lanarkshire Access Panel, said: "I simply don't have the choice of using the rest of the car park.

"If I have no space to get my chair in and out of the car I need to turn round and go home.

She added: "I have been in situations where I managed to park but was unable to open my car door to get the chair in when I got back with my shopping.

"We are very pleased that the council is taking these steps to raise awareness of the issue."

As well as billboards and bus and newspaper advertising, awareness raising sessions have been planned for town centres across the area where people can obtain more information on blue badges, disabled bays and the regulations that are currently in place.

The billboards are based on research which revealed the kinds of excuses people use for misusing disabled bays from "I'll only be a minute'" to "My car is too wide".