DISABLED PERSONS PARKING BILL PASSES FINAL STAGE

Joint press release from Wendy and Hugh Henry MSP

Disabled parking bays, which are under the control of Scotland’s thirty-two local authorities, are to become legally enforceable after MSPs voted last week in favour Jackie Baillie’s Members Bill.

There are an estimated one million disabled people resident in Scotland – around a quarter are registered Blue Badge holders who will benefit from this Bill. After the debate MSPs Hugh Henry and Wendy Alexander wholeheartedly gave their backing to the Bill:

Hugh Henry MSP said:

“This Bill will make a positive contribution to disabled people’s lives across Scotland. For too long disabled people have had to rely on the courtesy of others not to park in disabled spaces, this Bill will ensure that such spaces are legally enforceable.

I would urge all drivers in Renfrewshire to respect the needs of disabled people and not use the parking spaces specially designated for them.

I hope it will send a strong message to those who suffer disabled parking abuse that the Scottish Parliament is on their side.”

As well as the duty on local authorities, the Bill further requires councils to contact owners and/or operators of private car parks including supermarkets and out of town retail centres to negotiate an agreement which would make their disabled persons’ parking places enforceable.

Wendy Alexander, added:

“I am delighted that Jackie’s Members Bill was has been passed by the Scottish Parliament and will now become law.  For quite some time locally, Braehead and Asda have been voluntarily operating measures to stem the abuse of disabled parking places in their car parks now the way is open for the local authority to follow suit wherever necessary across Renfrewshire

“I hope this legislation will make it that bit easier for disabled people to go about their day to day lives without the profound upset of nowhere to  park solely due to the selfishness of others .”