PRESS RELEASE

November 27th, 2008

Disabled parking bill takes step forward

Plans for a new law to tackle people who abuse disabled parking bays has passed the first hurdle.

A bill going through the Scottish Parliament will make all existing disabled parking bays under the control of local authorities legally enforceable.

The Bill further requires local authorities to contact owners and operators of private car parks, including supermarkets and shopping centres, to negotiate an agreement which would make their disabled persons’ parking places enforceable.

It aims benefit the 223,995 registered Blue Badge holders in Scotland – nearly five per cent of the population.

At present, almost 85 per cent of disabled parking bays are advisory and therefore anyone can park in them without the risk of being penalised.

The Bill proposes that a fine of £30, rising to £60 after 14 days, will be applied to those who abuse disabled parking bays.

It was backed by MSPs this week at its first stage and will now go on to the next stage of scrutiny.

Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, took part in the debate and was delighted with the cross-party support it received.

He led the investigation into the bill as convenor of the local government committee.

Mr McNeil said: “This is an important issue that has troubled many of my own constituents and I am glad that steps are now being taken to ensure that disabled parking bays are kept for those who need them.

“For someone with an impairment this is more than an irritant – it represents a significant obstacle to undertake the most mundane tasks, such as going to the shops, visiting the post office or attending hospital.

“As one of the disability groups put it in their evidence to the committee, ‘the age of just relying on politeness has ended and the age of enforcement has come’.”

The MSP also called on supermarkets and other off-road car park operators to take action now rather than wait for the bill.

Mr McNeil points to the example set by ASDA, who have increased availability of disabled parking spaces by 60 per cent.

They have achieved this by introducing part-time parking attendants who can issue motorists a £60 penalty to motorists who don’t comply after being warned about abusing disabled bays.

The MSP said: “It is fair to say that Asda are leading the way and importantly, rather than being viewed as a nuisance by customers, the enforcement schemes have received a 93 per cent customer endorsement rating.

“Instead of waiting to be told what to do, I would urge other supermarkets to adopt this good practice and ensure their disabled customers aren’t put off shopping in their stores.”

ENDS