Parking for disabled: public meeting called
A MEETING has been called to discuss the controversial issue of charging disabled motorists for parking.
West Norfolk Council's plans to scrap free parking for blue badge holders in all of its car parks from April have divided the community.
A public meeting will be held at the NORA Project Office/South Lynn Centre, in Wisbech Road, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Monday, March 31.
Coordinator of West Norfolk disability information service Jonathan Toye said: "This is yet another expense that disabled people will have to deal with. Many are on a low, fixed income. Many cannot use public transport because it is inaccessible.
Using the car is their only choice. This is an unjust tax on disabled people. If the council feels it needs more income from its car parks it should ask its employees and councillors to pay for parking. This would bring in a sizeable sum."
West Norfolk Council leader Nick Daubney has already launched a review of councillors and council workers who use public car parks for free, as previously reported in the Lynn News.
Mr Daubney said: "Obviously we are pushing it pretty hard because we realise people are anxious about it."
He said he would be more than happy to discuss the council having representation at the meeting.
It has also been revealed that 100 Freebridge Community Housing workers also have permits to park on the council-run car parks. The housing association paid a fee for the permits for ten years when it took over the council's housing stock in 2006.
As with the council's own permits a limited number of them allow staff to use the short-stay Chapel Street car park near to the council and Freebridge offices, while the majority are for use on long-stay car parks.
In an online poll 53 per cent of Lynn News readers thought the council was right to scrap free parking for the disabled.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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