Disabled couple hit with ticket outside old Blackburn Market

TICKET Robert Fulton TICKET Robert Fulton

AN elderly couple who were issued with a parking ticket for leaving their car in a loading bay outside the old Blackburn Market, which closed more than a year ago, said the situation ‘was a joke’.

Robert Fulton, 80, and his wife Jean, who is in her 70s, parked their yellow Vauxhall in the space, in Brown Street, last Friday, so they could easily acc-ess shops in The Mall.

The couple, who live in Pole Lane, Darwen, have both had knee replacement surgery and had displayed their blue badge.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council officials said the loading bay was still used by some businesses in the area, incl- uding the Blackburn Transport Office, Gala Bingo, and the Job Centre.

Mr Fulton, who used to run a home brewing stall on the old market, said he couldn’t believe he had received the ticket.

He said: “It was a joke and an expensive one at that.

“My wife has problems walk-ing, and I have a false knee, so it is essential we park close to the shops.

“The market has been shut down for a long time, so we have no idea who is loading outside. It is an empty building.”

Coun Dave Harling, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Coun-cil, said: “The ticket was corr-ectly issued in this case as blue badge holders are not permitted to park in loading bays. “This includes those at the former market, which are still enf-orceable due to some businesses still using the area.

“The couple can appeal to the council as we have a policy to cancel the first parking fine issued to a blue badge holder,” he added.

Comments(28)

burner says...
3:04pm Fri 14 Dec 12

. . . "The ticket was corr-ectly issued in this case as blue badge holders are not permitted to park in loading bays." . . . sorry, Robert, but we all have to live with rules, regulations and laws. Dave Harling ( blessings upon you this Festive Season ) says the loading bays are, " still enf-orceable due to some businesses still using the area. ". Don't be a naughty boy, Rob, use one of the gazillion disabled bays or park on yellows .

JP58 says...
3:07pm Fri 14 Dec 12

I sympathise with the couples disability but could they not use one of the many disabled parking spaces in the town centre including the ones on the main carpark which is right in the middle of the shopping area? The street outside where I work is regularly filled with cars with blue badges in them so that our customers have no access, the badge holders then walk accross to shop in Morrisons where the disabled parking in the store would obviously be nearer, I am all for disabled parking but I think that blue badge holders should also show consideration when parking.

useyourhead says...
3:17pm Fri 14 Dec 12

why is there a policy to cancle the first ticket for all blue badge holders?
-
Total discrimination!!
-
why not look at each appeal on its merits and cancle if appropriate? to say we have such a policy is giving all blue badge holders a 'free pass' for the first offence.
-
back on point, he should have parked properly, there are more than enough concessions allowed with a blue badge, and yes, I am speaking as a former badge user.

2 for 5p says...
3:45pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Robert the git :

What puts you above the law.

sunnyside1 says...
4:00pm Fri 14 Dec 12

omg has the LET got nothing better to do than to report about some idiot who cant park his car in the correct place !!!! no one cares ..... what is it with a lot of these badge holders thinking their above the law and parking were ever they dam well like.

Good call says...
5:05pm Fri 14 Dec 12

sunnyside1 wrote:
omg has the LET got nothing better to do than to report about some idiot who cant park his car in the correct place !!!! no one cares ..... what is it with a lot of these badge holders thinking their above the law and parking were ever they dam well like.
There was no victim,there was no injury,harm or loss and there was no obstruction of a public highway.

Dai Darwen says...
5:14pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Yes, he hadn't been in the Telegraph for a while.

YNWAJFT96 says...
5:15pm Fri 14 Dec 12

useyourhead wrote:
why is there a policy to cancle the first ticket for all blue badge holders?
-
Total discrimination!!
-
why not look at each appeal on its merits and cancle if appropriate? to say we have such a policy is giving all blue badge holders a 'free pass' for the first offence.
-
back on point, he should have parked properly, there are more than enough concessions allowed with a blue badge, and yes, I am speaking as a former badge user.
What do you mean 'former' badge holder?

ChairOnMyHead says...
7:07pm Fri 14 Dec 12

"The Blue Badge is not a licence to park anywhere."

This is clearly stated on the www.gov.uk website.
Why make a fuss when you have been caught parking illegally. Blue badge or not!

CapitaBackHander says...
7:17pm Fri 14 Dec 12

It is a non story! They CAN park on double yellows so don't need all the flipping disabled bays anyway! They then go and park somewhere where they are NOT allowed to park and get a non story printed. Deserve all the grief they have asked for!

ChairOnMyHead says...
7:32pm Fri 14 Dec 12

You can actually park ANYWHERE if you leave your hazard lights flashing! It's true. Honest.

jay1969 says...
8:47pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Got to say totally agree with the ticket, as a delivery driver a loading bay is as it states and while where on the subject of tickets, have you seen Audley Range lately, but you'll never see a warden patrolling that street!

useyourhead says...
9:10am Sat 15 Dec 12

YNWAJFT96 wrote:
useyourhead wrote:
why is there a policy to cancle the first ticket for all blue badge holders?
-
Total discrimination!!
-
why not look at each appeal on its merits and cancle if appropriate? to say we have such a policy is giving all blue badge holders a 'free pass' for the first offence.
-
back on point, he should have parked properly, there are more than enough concessions allowed with a blue badge, and yes, I am speaking as a former badge user.
What do you mean 'former' badge holder?
I said badge user, but basically my mother had one before she passed away, and i was her driver. the badge was returned on her death, hence the 'former'.

A Darener says...
12:38pm Sat 15 Dec 12

As the driver for my disabled daughter I have to agree with the comments above. Blue badge holders think they have a divine right to park anywhere. I am very loath to park on double yellow lines unless I have no alternative. Double yellow lines are there for a reason so I won't usually park on them even though I can. This sort of story gives badge holders a bad name. What should be followed up is the mis use of badges and the misuse of disabled parking places by non disabled drivers and their passengers.

djt says...
1:00pm Sat 15 Dec 12

They parked in the wrong place and got caught. Shut up and the pay the fine. Having a blue badge does not allow you to park where ever you please.

Briantodd says...
2:55pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Blue Badge users can not park anywhere.
i had a ble badge holder with me and parked on a double yellow line but, un noticed by neithr myself or the badge holder there was a block across the double yellow line making it illegal to park adn I had to pay a fine. So NO blue badge holders can not park anywhere!!

peely says...
3:22pm Sat 15 Dec 12

He should have gone up Whalley Range ! You can park anywhere up there honest - double yellows , pavement ,pedestrian crossing absolutely anywhere and not a warden in sight !

thoroughbred says...
7:52pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Pay your fine, you broke the law, just like the 21 offenders I counted on double yellows along Whalley 'we please ourselves' Range today. No ifs! No buts! there's more than enough disabled spaces...too many in fact!
Dunno where you get the nerve to publicise your flouting of the law?

2 for 5p says...
10:07pm Sat 15 Dec 12

why do you pick on whalley range for a example .
You never see wardns at shadsworth or whitebirk or mellor or brownhill, the **** is endless why do you pick on whalley range .
I think we all know what you are, SCUM.

peely says...
12:19am Sun 16 Dec 12

2 for 5p wrote:
why do you pick on whalley range for a example .
You never see wardns at shadsworth or whitebirk or mellor or brownhill, the **** is endless why do you pick on whalley range .
I think we all know what you are, SCUM.
Ok won,t pick on Whalley range then, he should have parked on Audley range !

2 for 5p says...
1:42am Sun 16 Dec 12

peely wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
why do you pick on whalley range for a example .
You never see wardns at shadsworth or whitebirk or mellor or brownhill, the **** is endless why do you pick on whalley range .
I think we all know what you are, SCUM.
Ok won,t pick on Whalley range then, he should have parked on Audley range !
he could also of parked in shad or whitebirk or mellor or ewood

sunnyside1 says...
7:54am Sun 16 Dec 12

thoroughbred wrote:
Pay your fine, you broke the law, just like the 21 offenders I counted on double yellows along Whalley 'we please ourselves' Range today. No ifs! No buts! there's more than enough disabled spaces...too many in fact! Dunno where you get the nerve to publicise your flouting of the law?
well said throughbred !!

jackmetickler says...
10:38am Sun 16 Dec 12

sunnyside1 wrote:
thoroughbred wrote: Pay your fine, you broke the law, just like the 21 offenders I counted on double yellows along Whalley 'we please ourselves' Range today. No ifs! No buts! there's more than enough disabled spaces...too many in fact! Dunno where you get the nerve to publicise your flouting of the law?
well said throughbred !!
agree but I bet most of the whalley range fines mysteriosly never get paid or enforced!

mibman2003 says...
10:46am Sun 16 Dec 12

As a Traffic Warden myself (in Bolton) I come accross the same scenarios all the time. Disabled Badge Holders pretty much own the town centre bays, and occupy 95% of the them, yet moan like hell when they get a ticket for parking in one of the bays where they are not permitted to. One situation last week really wound me up....a few Disabled Badge holders complained because a section of a street was suspended so coaches full of children could safely drop them off in order for them to visit the Museum etc, for the first time ALL YEAR no-one INCLUDING badge houders could park there at all. A few elderly people approached me, and to quote said "it's absolutely disgraceful" that they were not allowed to park. I explained that it was for the safety of the children, and they completely refused to acknowledge it....completely selfish and arrogant!!!

Cuttingsky says...
11:37am Sun 16 Dec 12

useyourhead wrote:
why is there a policy to cancle the first ticket for all blue badge holders?
-
Total discrimination!!
-
why not look at each appeal on its merits and cancle if appropriate? to say we have such a policy is giving all blue badge holders a 'free pass' for the first offence.
-
back on point, he should have parked properly, there are more than enough concessions allowed with a blue badge, and yes, I am speaking as a former badge user.
My thoughts exactly. All issued with a first ticket should cite this as their first ground..... Discrimination at it's worst in my opinion!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

Cuttingsky says...
11:39am Sun 16 Dec 12

Good call wrote:
sunnyside1 wrote:
omg has the LET got nothing better to do than to report about some idiot who cant park his car in the correct place !!!! no one cares ..... what is it with a lot of these badge holders thinking their above the law and parking were ever they dam well like.
There was no victim,there was no injury,harm or loss and there was no obstruction of a public highway.
Good call says..............

You have missed the mighty BUT......

He broke the rules............

NO IF's BUT's AND's.....

SIMPLES!

Cuttingsky says...
11:45am Sun 16 Dec 12

ChairOnMyHead wrote:
You can actually park ANYWHERE if you leave your hazard lights flashing! It's true. Honest.
That's where he went wrong!

johndarwen says...
12:03pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Would be nice to see people who park at Asdas getting booked for not being disabled using disabled bays and their parents badges.
When was the last time you saw a council worker checking the badges in cars against the drivers of the cars?

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