Council Issued over 1000 Fines in 2024 to Vehicles in Disabled Parking Spaces.

Over 1000 fines were issued by Westmorland and Furness council last year for the incorrect use of disabled parking spaces.

A freedom of information (FOI) request shows that in 2024 Westmorland and Furness Council handed out 1100 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking in a designated disabled person’s on street parking space without displaying a blue badge in the prescribed manner.

The Liberal Democrat-led authority also gave out 259 fines to people parking in an off-street disabled parking space without displaying a valid blue badge.

A spokesperson for the council said it was ‘vital’ that motorists respect designated spaces for blue badge holders, to ensure they remain available for those who need them most.

Councillor Matt Brereton who represents the High Furness ward said people should not abuse disabled parking spaces but added there is an ‘issue’ around access to town centres.

Cllr Brereton said: “Our town centres aren’t configured to meet the needs of the modern motorist and unfortunately public transport isn’t good enough between our towns.

“As much as we encourage people to try and leave the car at home, there’s no way a slightly older person or anyone with lots of shopping or two young children, is going to go in and out of town centre without being able to use the car.

“While I do not in any way condone people using blue badge spaces when they’re not entitled to do, I do think it’s incumbent on the council to look again at our strategy around town centre parking.”

The High Furness councillor told the local democracy service that ‘footfall’ is often driven by ‘convenient’ access to town centre parking and added in a lot of car parks the bays are ‘too narrow’.

He added: “One of the biggest issues we can solve at a stroke is to really enhance the availability and accessibility of town centre parking.”

From the start of 2025 to February 11, the council had already issued 124 fines for parking in a designated disabled person’s on street parking space without displaying a blue badge in the prescribed manner.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “We are dedicated to keeping parking in our towns and villages accessible for everyone.

“It is vital that all motorists respect designated spaces for Blue Badge holders, ensuring they remain available for those who need them most. Pass holders must also adhere to the terms and conditions of use to protect the integrity of the scheme, promoting fairness and accessibility for all.

“To help prevent misuse and encourage responsible parking, our Civil Enforcement Officers issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) where necessary to address inappropriate parking.”

Report by Dan Hunt (Local Democracy Reporting Service)