11/11/05 - City Purge on Parking Bay Bandits

Officials say they have found many of the city's 122 Blue Badge parking spaces occupied by unauthorised vehicles during routine checks.

So now parking attendants across the city have been told to target vehicles not showing the correct permit.

In the last year 600 tickets have been issued for incorrect use of the bays.

Council officials have focused on the problem after pressure from the city's disabled advisory group.

Huge impact

Julian Horsler, the council's equality officer, said: "Abuse of Blue Badge disabled parking bays is a continuing issue in York.

"By parking in a designated bay without a Blue Badge, motorists are preventing people with severe walking difficulties being able to park close to shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

"It can have a huge impact on their lives and there are many cases of Blue Badge holders being forced to turn round and go home simply because they can't find any where to park close enough to their destination."

The city's transport chiefs are urging anyone who sees someone using a Blue Badge Bay incorrectly to call the council's parking helpline on 0800 1381119.

The helpline operators will then notify York's parking attendants by text so they can deal with the problem.

The aim is to have an official at the scene within 15 to 30 minutes of taking the original call.