Latest news with #disabledparking
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Man in court after using late mum's disabled parking permit
A man appeared in court after using his late mother's disabled parking permit more than 16 months after she died. Salford City Council prosecuted Omer Ali Khan, 32, of Deerhurst Drive in Manchester, after finding the blue badge on a silver Audi. Khan, who was caught in North George Street on 13 November, was convicted of fraud by false representation and ordered to pay £512 in fines and costs at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Friday. Salford City Council's Barbara Bentham said the council was seeing through its promise to crack down on blue badge fraud. Wardens patrolling the streets noticed the badge on the dashboard of a car parked on double yellow they looked into the name on the badge, they found it was that of a woman who had died in 2023. Fraud crackdown Bentham said: "The fraudulent misuse of badges means that sometimes disabled bays are not available and those who are in genuine need of parking closer to facilities or wider spaces to get in out of wheelchairs are not able to do so."The city council uses spot checks, data sharing about lost, stolen and revoked badges and public reporting to enforce the blue badge is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act to misuse a blue than 400,000 people in the north-west of England hold one of the permits. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl to introduce huge car park changes
Shoppers at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Morrisons can expect big changes to car parks soon. The RAC has requested that its members respond to an ongoing survey aimed at understanding the experiences of those who need to use disabled bays. Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is urging individuals to participate in a survey between July 21st and August 15th to highlight the current challenges faced by the community. DMUK's Baywatch campaign aims to highlight the persistent misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badges in supermarket car parks, and potentially advocate for stricter enforcement. The campaign invites disabled motorists – and their companions – to fill out a survey after each visit to the supermarket. The information gathered will help create a more accurate picture of the difficulties disabled people encounter when parking at six major supermarket chains: Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl. The 2024 survey revealed that nearly half (40%) of disabled drivers have had to leave car parks due to the lack of available suitable spaces. An additional 36% reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays. DMUK's data also indicated that another 40% of disabled individuals state that they are unable to park at local shops because they are inaccessible. The need for accessible parking bays is surging at an alarming rate. With almost three million Blue Badge holders across the UK – and a 10% increase in England alone during the past year – there are currently around 52 Blue Badge holders competing for each accessible parking space. These statistics highlight a wider accessibility crisis throughout public facilities and car parks, putting millions of disabled individuals at a serious disadvantage. Recommended reading: Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Asda prices set to increase by 33%, experts warn Santander customers issued urgent credit card warning after increase in charges Lloyds Bank customers urged to act now or miss out on free £185 Dr Shani Dhanda, Award Winning Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Specialist, said: "Accessible parking bays aren't just a nice-to-have - they're a lifeline. "Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that's getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community. "When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren't a priority. "Baywatch matters because it's not just raising awareness - it's holding people to account and pushing for real change."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man used dead mother's Blue Badge permit to park in Salford
A man who used his dead mother's Blue Badge to park in Salford has been fined. The case was the first to go to court since the council announced a crackdown on the fraud in November. Last year a councillor claimed the scam was blocking parking spaces for disabled people who need. Coun Robin Garrido warned that disabled people faced being "stuck at home" because parking bays close to shops and district centres are sometimes taken by drivers with no entitlement to use a blue badge. The Tory councillor supported plans by the Labour-run council to take action against those using the permits illegally. READ MORE: LIVE: TWO hour delays on M62 after major lorry fire causes huge spillage - updates READ MORE: Paul Gallagher charged with rape and making threats to kill Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The council launched a Blue Badge amnesty on October 28 lasting two weeks, where people could hand in blue badges which they are not entitled to use. But from November 11, the council started checking that blue badges being used in the city are correctly registered, and prosecuting people using them illegally. Salford Disability Forum said it supports the crackdown, and that blue badge fraud has an impact on disabled people who "really need" to use the spaces. Mr Omer Ali Kahn of Deerhurst Drive in Cheetham Hill, Manchester was fined £116 and made to pay costs of £350 with a victim surcharge of £46 at Manchester Magistrates Court on Friday 25 July. The offence took place on 13 November 2024 when Mr Khan used his deceased mother's Blue Badge to park on George Street North in Salford. The offence was found when civil enforcement officers were patrolling the streets. Officers noticed a Blue Badge that belonged to a female in a silver Audi that was parked on double yellow lines on the road. Two men walked to the car, no female was present. On further investigation it was found the Blue Badge holder had died in 2023. Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety at Salford City Council, said: 'In November 2024 we announced a crackdown on the abuse of Blue Badges in our city. Just two days after our amnesty ended our enforcement officers found the Blue Badge of a deceased woman being used in the city. 'We have made a promise to local people that we will take Blue Badge fraud seriously and we are doing so. The fraudulent misuse of badges means that sometimes disabled bays are not available and those who are in genuine need of parking closer to facilities or wider spaces to get in out of wheelchairs are not able to do so. 'Our officers patrolling the streets are fully trained and sensitive in their work. Legitimate Blue Badge users do not need to worry as we are not here to target them - we are here to make their lives easier.' Salford City Council uses spot checks, data sharing about lost, stolen and revoked badges and also public reporting to enforce the Blue Badge scheme. It is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act to misuse a Blue Badge and more than 400,000 people hold a Blue Badge in the north west.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Blue badge holder fined for parking at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
A blue badge holder said he was fined £60 for parking at a hospital despite registering for free parking at the Harrison, from Highley in Shropshire, received the letter after parking at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. "It's quite shocking for me to get a parking fine when as far as I understand, I have abided by the rules, parked where I should, and registered the car," he Gardner, interim chief nursing officer, said there was no known fault with the parking system at the hospital. Blue badges allow motorists to park on the street for free. Off-street car parks, such as hospitals, usually have different trust said blue badge holders receive free parking at the hospital if they register for free parking and display a valid badge in the Harrison said he followed all the rules on the day and when he spoke to someone about the fine, they said the system could not tell between a disabled-registered car or someone trying to dodge a fine. 'Really upsetting' "I'm not guilty because I registered my car and I have a blue badge, so they shouldn't have sent me the fine under any circumstances," he told the BBC."The letter doesn't make it easy to appeal - you need to have a computer or a laptop, you need a smart phone at least to send a picture, send an email or go online to appeal."It was really upsetting, actually, because of the finances, most people on disability payments… are financially stretched."Ms Gardner said the formal appeals process allowed for proper investigations to take place and each case was assessed and reviewed accordingly."We understand that individual circumstances can vary and we would encourage anyone who believes they have received a parking charge notice in error to follow the formal appeals process," she added that the trust was committed to ensuring parking arrangements were fair and accessible and was working with its partner, Group Nexus, on the management of the car parks. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Supermarkets to be named and shamed for abuse of parking rules at stores this month
Disabled people across Britain have the opportunity to name and shame supermarkets where they suffer a specific type of abuse. The issue in question has become prevalent in recent years, with cases of fraud, misuse and threatening behaviour increasing by over 1,000 per cent since 2016. Now a charity is inviting disabled drivers and those they travel with to provide feedback on their experience of flagrant rule breaking when visiting Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl stores between now and the middle of August. Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) has launched a survey for people to review misuse of disabled parking bays at the six major supermarkets, which are designated for Blue Badge holders only. Those with permits have been reporting nationwide problems when trying to access these spaces, with drivers without Blue Badges selfishly using bays because they are typically those closest to the store - and then become aggressive when approached by people needing them most. Statistics show than the Blue Badge scheme itself is being 'shockingly' exploited, with permit thefts on the rise and reported instances of abuse growing from hundreds per year to over 3,500 cases by 2023. DMUK says the findings from its study will be shared with supermarket bosses and made public 'to raise awareness and help drive positive policy change'. The charity says supermarkets and operators of their private car parks often lack a commitment to prioritising improvements to accessibility barriers suffered by disabled drivers. This is despite the fact they are using their wide-ranging resources to chase 14.4million drivers each year for breaking car park rules regarding the duration they stay or how late they return to their vehicles. Exclusive analysis by This is Money earlier this month found that 40,000 tickets per day worth up to £100 are being issued by these private parking companies - but DMUK says they are fundamentally failing disabled motorists by not enforcing Blue Badge bays at these locations. This week, it launched its 'Baywatch' campaign to highlight the ongoing abuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badge misuse at supermarkets, calling for greater operator accountability. With little evidence of enforcement of disabled bays, visitors entitled to use them are sometimes 'feeling pressured to put their personal safety at risk by challenging disabled bay abuse,' DMUK said. The charity says supermarkets and operators of their private car parks often lack a commitment to prioritising improvements to accessibility barriers suffered by disabled drivers A report published in June estimates that for every disabled parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders, with many reporting a daily scramble to access the limited spaces available. As such, two in five disabled customers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces. More than a third (36 per cent) reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays, according to a recent report. According to a report by The Purple Pound, supermarkets lose £501million a month through lack of accessibility for disabled visitors. 'Accessible parking bays aren't just a nice-to-have - they're a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that's getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community,' explains Dr Shani Dhanda, an award-winning disability inclusion and accessibility specialist. 'When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren't a priority. 'Baywatch matters because it's not just raising awareness - it's holding people to account and pushing for real change.' Shocking abuse experienced by disabled drivers Members of DMUK have been sharing their own personal experiences of visiting supermarkets, with tales ranging from the disappointing to downright alarming. Andy S said he had witnessed a father and adult daughter getting out of a car parked in a disabled bay with no blue badge in the windscreen. 'My daughter politely asked if they had forgotten to put the BB on display, the abuse that followed was disgusting,' he explained. 'I then approached the man and received the same. 'Security [in the supermarket] witnessed it and did nothing. I thought it was going to get physical [so] I walked away.' Another male DMUK member detailed the difficulties he struggled during one visit. 'I went to a supermarket, which had 25 blue badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company. 'I had to try parking elsewhere; it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.' DMUK Member, Joyce K explained: 'I went to the supermarket to go shopping with one of my carers and the disabled bays were all full, there were six bays, only four had blue badges on display. 'When I confronted one of the drivers I was given abuse and told she would park where she wanted, the lady then walked off to go to cashpoint and other shops, I drove away. 'I tried to report it to the store only to be told the car park didn't belong to them so they couldn't do anything about it.' Mary T detailed a very similar scenarios at a supermarket. 'I witnessed disabled bays being used by Uber/cab drivers as pick-up spots, plus a staff member eating his lunch in a car with no blue badge. I spoke to a person who identified as a supervisor and was rudely told he didn't care… I emailed the supermarket Customer Relations which was not replied too,' she said. Misuse of Blue Badge scheme is rife In May, the British Parking Association (BPA) - the body representing private parking operators - said it is witnessing startlingly high instances of misuse and fraud by dishonest motorists who are 'undermining the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme' and making 'day to day life more difficult for those who genuinely need it'. It also highlighted that the number of blue badges stolen in London alone increased by 400 per cent between 2014 and 2023, with the victims of this crime being those that rely on accessible parking in order carry out vital everyday activities. The BPA is now calling on local authorities and councils to be given greater ability and mechanisms to effectively tackle the issue and put a stop to this ongoing abuse. 'Perpetrators are currently not deterred by the limited consequences for their action,' the trade body said. The association has called on the Government to review the civil and criminal powers and resources available to tackle the problem, including consideration for introduction of penalty charges commensurate with the social impact of Blue Badge misuse. This is Money raised the statistics with the Department for Transport. A DfT spokesperson said: 'Exploitation of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is a vital resource helping many people travel with confidence. 'We are supporting the police to tackle this issue by working closely with local authorities and have strengthened their powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse.' Participants who complete the Baywatch survey between 21 July and 15 August will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 M&S gift cards and are encouraged to complete the survey multiple times during the campaign. A link to the survey can be found here
