Warden books car for Scots disabled badge

Oct 9 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

THE family of a disabled teenager from Scotland had a shock when they got booked for parking in a council car park even though they had displayed his blue badge correctly.

But it seems they had fallen foul of differences in the law between Scotland and Wales.

The family, who live on Clydebank, were staying with friends on Anglesey when they visited Llandudno last week and parked in the town hall car park.

Friend Katie Brierley of Bodffordd on Anglesey said: “Their 17-year-old son has multiple disabilities and is registered blind. They parked there and displayed his badge before going to the Cottage Loaf for lunch, but when they got back they found a ticket on the car. They were baffled as to why it had been issued as the badge was displayed correctly.

“We found a traffic warden who said it was because there was no clock with the badge, indicating when they had arrived in the car park, but in Scotland blue badges don’t have clocks, so they didn’t have one to set.”

She says her friends visit her frequently and have parked in the same car park without problem before.

“They had no idea a clock was required. It was very upsetting for them, and people who gathered around when they spoke to the warden were up in arms as he wasn’t very pleasant or sympathetic. This sort of situation gives a bad impression of Wales,” said Mrs Brierley.

A Conwy County Council spokesman said that if the family felt they had grounds they could appeal against the fine.

“We understand that genuine mistakes can be made and that’s why we have an appeals procedure. We’d ask the family to write in and explain the circumstances to us,” she commented.