Disabled fight to axe car park fees
DISABLED people are on the warpath over plans to charge them to park next to the sea.
Campaigners say they are being discriminated against by Havant Borough Council, which has decided to start charging them to use beach car parks on Hayling Island.
For years blue badge holders have been able to park for free in one of the seven car parks along the seafront.
But from next year blue badge holders are set to pay like everyone else.
The council has deemed the seafront car parks as 'recreational' and that everyone should pay to use them.
But all other council car parks in the Havant borough will remain free for blue badge holders.
Pauline Bonfield, aged 65, is now writing to the Government to call for the Secretary of State to intervene.
"This is specifically targeting disabled people," said Mrs Bonfield, from Waterlooville.
"Disabled people have a bad enough time as it is. People just like to sit there and enjoy the fresh air and get out from the four walls they live in.
"I won't let this go. Disabled people are the most vulnerable in society."
Sixty-seven-year-old Ray Chowns, of Salterns Lane, Hayling, added: "It really isn't on to charge disabled people.
"You can't even go down to the beach because of all the stones."
The shake-up is among a series of increases in parking charges across the borough as part of this year's 18.1million council budget, which has identified savings of 850,000 need to be made over the next year.
The increases across all the car parks are set to raise an extra 240,000 for council coffers.
For one hour, the charge is 1, but a longer stay at the height of the season will be more expensive – costing 6 for more than four hours.
Havant 50-plus Forum organised a meeting at the Civic Offices last month to talk about how to get the plans dropped.
Chairman Pete Walden said: "It's wrong and we are going to fight this."
The council said it would review the plan before it is implemented next year.
Technical services manager Tony Cailes said: "While the cabinet has made the decision in principle to introduce charges for blue badge holders at Beachlands car parks, the council is fully aware of its obligations under the Disability and Discrimination Act, and as a consequence it will carry out a full customer and equality impact assessment before progressing any changes.
"Charges will be implemented once works to make the car parks accessible are complete, which is not likely to be until the autumn.
"It's unlikely therefore that any changes will be implemented before summer 2011."
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Weather for Hayling
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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