PARKING for Blue Badge holders in Church Street car park should remain free say Melksham Town councillors, who have suggested the council pay Wiltshire Council for the lease of the disabled parking bays
Cllr Sue Mortimer has asked the town council to consider leasing the eight disabled parking bays in the Church Street car park, to support Blue Badge holders, allowing them to continue to have ‘hassle free parking’ in a car park that gives them level access to shops in the town centre.
“Let’s show that we listen to our residents’ concerns, that we truly are an Age Friendly Town and consider the cost of leasing these spaces from Wiltshire Council,” said cllr Mortimer in her proposal to the town council.
The introduction of parking charges for Blue Badge holders – and a 10p increase on all tariffs – in all Wiltshire Council-owned car parks, is still subject to the traffic regulation order (TRO) application process and a public consultation.
Because of this, cllr Phil Alford – who is also a Wiltshire councillor – explained at a town council meeting last week that there is not yet a policy in place to allow the town council to lease disabled parking bays.
“The policy will take some time to be built, go through cabinet and be agreed,” said cllr Alford explaining what would happen if the new parking charges were agreed after the public consultation.
As a solution, cllr Jon Hubbard proposed that the town council write to Wiltshire Council expressing their interest in leasing the disabled parking bays, ‘subject to cost’; and that the town council be notified of any new policy “in a timely manner before parking charges are introduced” to allow the town council to consider its next steps.
The move to introduce parking charges for Blue Badges – which can by applied for by people with disabilities or health conditions – received heavy criticism from local residents and councillors.
Wiltshire Council said that the parking charge changes ‘better reflect current inflation levels’ and will help them recover some operational costs. Wiltshire Council say that the TRO process will begin soon.
However, the decision to start charging for parking on Sundays, also made by Wiltshire Council in February, is not subject to the TRO application process – and charges will begin from 1st April.
