TOUGHER action is being taken to prevent illegal parking across Barnsley including the misuse of blue badges intended for disabled people which could lead to fines of £1,000 being handed out.
The Chronicle can reveal Barnsley Council’s parking enforcement team is now working alongside Action Fraud in a dedicated clampdown on the matter, which councillors say is affecting most parts of the town with particular hotspots in the town centre and Cudworth.
There are currently more than 10,000 blue badges in use in the town - which are given to disabled motorists and enables priority parking - although there’s been a rise in the number of non-disabled people misusing them, according to the council.
Dale Sparks, head of commercial support services, said: “We have a reactive approach to dealing with illegal parking which covers schools’ safety zones, bus stops and blue badge misuse.
“We’ve found all sorts of things to do with that particular point, including people producing replica badges and season tickets. However, they are impossible to replicate as genuine ones have a hologram.
“Illegal parking is a big issue in Barnsley and we’re working with fraud teams in order to stop blue badge misuse as we have found they are being given to people who don’t have a disability by their registered keeper.”
In the last three years, £75,883 has been generated from issuing penalties to illegal parkers and this money is set to be divided up between each of Barnsley’s six area councils where the parking infringements have occurred.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson, said: “Illegal parking outside of schools is regular during term time but there’s been an increase in reports of blue badge misuse.
“Using a stolen or fake blue badge or allowing a friend or family member to use them is fraud. Misuse is a criminal offence and it’s something that’s a concern as is the rise in the replica badges.”
The council’s in-house officers also work alongside Kingdom, the enforcement firm employed by area councils to target matters such as illegal parking, while out-of-hours patrols are set to be scheduled at locations put forward by councillors.
Dale added: “Things like parking on a dropped kerb, no matter where it is, is something we can issue fines for. The dropped kerb is there for a reason and if someone’s prevented from accessing their home because of how a vehicle’s been parked, clearly that is an issue.
“Illegal parking and our subsequent enforcement costs far more than we’ll ever get back but we aim to get the best for the local authority and the people of Barnsley.”
Coun Charlie Wraith, whose Cudworth ward is said to be one of the worst affected, urged officers to stop motorists flouting regulations in the village’s centre.
“It’s been going on for years and it’s something you’re always able to witness,” he added. “People displaying blue badges, who must be misusing them, are regularly seen running about and putting their cars wherever they please.
“But it’s not just blue badge misuse that’s a problem, it’s also people who just decide to park on double yellows and block the road. It’s pure laziness as they want to get as close to the shop door as possible.”
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BLUE badges help disabled people park closer to their destination either as a driver or passenger.
The badge is intended for on-street parking only as off-street car parks, such as those provided by councils, hospitals and supermarkets are governed by separate rules.
The badge, which remains the property of the issuing local authority, is something that can be confiscated if it’s being misused.
The badge also enables its user to park on double or single yellow lines for up to three hours, but only if it is ‘safe to do so’ and not within 15 metres of a junction or where there are restrictions.
