'Blue badges are being used by people who don't need them'

Blue badge fraud is blocking parking spaces for disabled people who need them, a Salford councillor has claimed.

Coun Robin Garrido warned that disabled people face being "stuck at home" because parking bays close to shops and district centres are sometimes taken by drivers with no entitlement to use a blue badge.

The Salford Conservatives leader has supported plans by the Labour-run council to take action against those using the permits illegally.

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Blue badges can be used by eligible disabled people who are travelling in a car as a driver or passenger.

But those who misuse the scheme risk being hit with a fine and potential criminal record.

Salford City Council launched a blue badge amnesty on October 28 lasting two weeks, where people can hand in blue badges which they are not entitled to use.

People can return the badges at council-owned buildings, such as gateway centres, or post them back to Salford City Council with no questions asked.

The council said it has already had ten referrals to its blue badge team, which led to one pass being removed and six people being given warnings due to permits being misused.

From Monday, November 11, the council will start to check that blue badges being used in the city are correctly registered, and prosecuting people using them illegally.

Coun Garrido told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I fully support the council's position on this, having a blue badge amnesty gives people the opportunity to hand back the blue badges that are being misused.

"I think in fairness some people don't realise without the disabled person in the car they can't use them

"After that, I really do think we have to clamp down and say we will take action.

"We have to protect our disabled people because in many cases blue badges are being used by people who don't need them."

Labour Coun Barbara Bentham, the town hall's community safety lead, said blue badges are "vital" for many disabled people, but claimed there are "a small minority of people who use badges fraudulently."

"We are asking motorists not to use permits that don’t belong to them, have expired or are no longer required," she added.

"We know that some people may not be aware that their badge has expired. It is important that you check and make use of the amnesty.

"Others will be aware that what they are doing is illegal. If you are using a blue badge fraudulently, I would urge you to take advantage of the amnesty and hand it in. If you fail to do so, we will be taking action against you."

The council said its officers will be in place across the city after the amnesty to check the permits are being used correctly.

Salford Disability Forum said it supports the crackdown, and that blue badge fraud has an impact on disabled people who "really need" to use the spaces.

They added: "We’re really pleased to hear this campaign has started in Salford to help people with legitimate blue badges park.

"It will make a huge difference to the people who really need the scheme as it is an absolute lifeline.

"If those spaces are being taken by people who should not be there, it affects us all."