Extra free hour for Blue Badge holders to be introduced soon

WILTSHIRE Council is to allow Blue Badge holders an extra hour on any parking ticket they purchase in council-run car parks.

The update was announced by Wiltshire Council leader, cllr Richard Clewer, at a council cabinet meeting last month.

The decision follows heavy criticism of the council after its controversial move to charge Blue Badge holders for parking in council car parks, in September of last year.

Cllr Clewer said, “We are pleased to announce this additional one-hour parking grace for Blue Badge holders. I’ve spoken to and listened to feedback from disability groups in Wiltshire about this issue, and seen at first-hand that some people who have Blue Badges, and pay to park in our car parks, require that little bit extra time to leave and return to their vehicles, so we think this measure is a sensible solution.

“We hope this supports Blue Badge holders to have a better and more comfortable experience using our car parking facilities. It also helps us deliver on our business plan aim of having vibrant, well-connected communities. We’ll work hard to get this up and running as quickly as possible.”

When it is introduced, Blue Badge holders will need to purchase a ticket and display their Blue Badge as usual, when parking in Wiltshire Council car parks, and the additional one-hour period will be implemented from when the ticket time has expired.