Information on Loughborough

Goodwill gesture to Blue Badge holding motorists

Posted on 11/02/2010
newsdesk

The opportunity to apply for a refund is being offered to disabled motorists who were issued with a parking ticket in Charnwood Borough Council run off street car parks last month.

New rules aimed at increasing the availability of spaces came into force on January 1 this year and now restrict Blue Badge holders’ free parking in the car parks to three hours .

The council is operating a “one free chance” policy for the first month of this new parking scheme, which means anyone who is given a ticket for the first time can appeal and, subject to being seen to parking correctly, will have the fine quashed.

However, a number of motorists did not appeal and paid the fine in full.

As a gesture of goodwill the council is offering reimbursements to those motorists and is extending the “one free chance” scheme until the end of this month (February).

Mike Preston, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “Although signs were put up in the car parks outlining the amendments to the parking scheme, it is clear that many of the drivers were still not aware of the changes.

“As a gesture of goodwill we have arranged for any Blue Badge motorists who were given a fine as a result of the new scheme the opportunity to be offered a refund and, to make sure everyone one is aware of the changes, will issue warnings for first offences until the end of the month.

“There is a reason why we have made the amendments to the parking arrangements and that is to encourage a higher turnover of spaces. The aim of this is to increase the number of available spaces for other Blue Badge holders who want to visit the town and use our car parks.”

Street wardens will be monitoring the car parks and issuing warnings to people who exceed the three hour limit until the end of the month.

Anyone who would like to apply for a reimbursement should; write to: LCC Notice Processing Centre, PO box 8633, Leicester LE19 9AZ.