Call to scrap plan for blue badge parking charges

Powys County Council, which has made significant cuts in recent years, is trying to save £8.5 million in the next financial year.

As part of that, the council is consulting on plans to charge disabled blue badge holders to park in council-run pay and display car parks – to save £100,000.

The move has been criticised by a number of councillors, including Welshpool town and county councillor Phil Pritchard, who described the move as an attack on vulnerable people.

He called for the council to save money elsewhere and said: “It is a pathetic move, and it will have devastating effect on so many people.

“To penny pinch like this is not on, there are so many other areas of the council where there is waste and money could be saved.

"This could lead to people not being able to get out to shop, and cause major problems.

“It is totally wrong and not what the electorate of Powys would want to see.”

The consultation is running until July 2 and includes four proposals, which could see badge holders have to pay the same price as others.

Other options include charging blue badge holders but giving them an extra hour to shop, making blue badger holders who park in normal spaces pay a full price, or to do nothing.

Other councillors have also hit out at the cabinet for putting the move forward.

Newtown county councillor David Selby added: “I should not be surprised that the current Conservative and Independent cabinet are once again planning to cut services for our most vulnerable in our society.

“I urge local people to respond to the consultation and make it clear to the administration that ill thought out and mean gestures such as this are not acceptable.”