Threat to free parking for blue badge holders in Powys

Currently, blue badge holders across Powys can park in any council owned and operated pay and display car park all day for free.

In a bid to meet a savings target of £100,000, the county council is proposing to change this to a concession charge.

The move could help the council achieve an overall savings target of £8.5 million in this financial year, and a consultation on the plans is running until July 2.

Four options are being put forward:

• One is to charge blue badge holders the same fee as anyone else.

• A second is to allow holders who park in a disabled bay to do so for free, with those who cannot find a disabled bay having to pay to park.

• Option three is to charge a fee to blue badge holders who will then get an extra hour on top of the allotted time

• The final possibility is to leave things as they are.

Cabinet member for highways Councillor Phyl Davies admitted it would be a difficult decision, but savings needed to be made.

He said: “This is a very difficult time for the council and difficult decisions have to be made.

“We fully recognise that blue badge holders do have mobility issues and need extra time to park and shop.

“Our preferred option is that a blue badge holder pays towards parking, but they will get extra time for free.

“So, if a blue badge holder pays for two hours, they would actually get three hours parking in total.”

To take part in the parking charge consultation you can contribute online.

You can do so by visiting: www.powys.gov.uk/haveyoursay and respond online, or request and return a completed paper copy through your local library.