Perth and Kinross Council give new powers to crack down on disabled parking abusers

Nov 10 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

NEW legislation will give Perth and Kinross Council powers to crack down on selfish motorists who illegally use disabled parking spaces.

It’s a practice which infuriates Blue Badge holders and right-thinking non-badge holder.

But now these inconsiderate parkers’ numbers are up after the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 (DPPPs) came into force on October 1.

The new legislation places the onus on local authorities to enforce DPPPs to deter abuse by non-Blue Badge holders.

Councils must also make as much provision of disabled parking bays as possible in Traffic Regulation Orders – and fund necessary alterations to road markings and signs, if required.

The act was considered in depth by the Enterprise and Infrastructure committee of Perth and Kinross Council at their latest meeting.

Councillors welcomed some aspects of the legislation but stressed the “major” additional financial and manpower burdens” it would place on all Scottish local authorities – and the difficulties in enforcing some of its elements.

Councillor Willie Wilson said: “This is an extremely complicated set of rules, although the objectives here are very clear and simple – and will be welcome.

“The number of people, especially at supermarkets, who blatantly and deliberately abuse Blue Badge spaces is disgraceful.”

In a report to councillors, depute environment director Jim Valentine detailed the nine main requirements of the act. They include:

l Placing a duty on local authorities to take steps to promote the proper use of parking places designated solely for the use of disabled persons’ vehicles.

l Requiring local authorities to identify every advisory DPPP in its area and if they meet certain criteria, include them in a TRO to make them enforceable.

l Providing the process for individuals and organisations holding a disabled persons’ badge to apply for a DPPP that will provide convenient access to their address.

l Requiring local authorities to identify all off-street advisory disabled persons’ parking places in their area and where the car parking areas are under local authority control .... making them legally enforceable.

Mr Valentine’s report detailing the implications of the nine requirements of the act made it clear local authority staff will be driven to distraction in their attempts to comply with everything.

And he admitted to the committee: “We don’t know how this is going to pan out. We are nervous about it and will shave to wait to see what happens.”