A COUNCIL worker has been disciplined after a complaint was made about a local authority van parked in a town centre disabled bay.

Mike Lamb, a retired Walker Steel lorry driver, who is registered disabled and walks with the aid of sticks due to a spinal complaint, was frustrated to be unable to to park on Church Street, Blackburn on Tuesday morning.

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Mr Lamb, 58, from Lanehouse Close, Livesey said: “I had dropped my son off at the railway station and then had something to collect from inside the market.

“A council liveried van was parked in a designated disabled parking bay on Church Street and was not displaying a blue badge.

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“As a bona-fide blue badge holder I wasn’t able to park there due to all the other bays being taken and this ‘council van’ taking up the disabled space.

“The van was parked there from 8.50am until I left the area at 9.10am.

“I for one, am a law abiding motorist and adhere to the relevant rules and regulations governing parking.

“I would have thought that the council, as a responsible local authority, would also up-hold the need to ensure that only blue badge holders be allowed to use such parking facilities.”

Mr Lamb, who during his career occasionally worked as a chauffeur for legendary former Blackburn Rovers owner and steel magnate Jack Walker, said he was gratified to receive a reply that day from Blackburn with Darwen Council stating they would betaking action.

Cllr Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for environment, said: “Disciplinary action has been taken with regards to the driver of the council vehicle in question.

"Blackburn with Darwen Council takes a very dim view of this type of activity and it is not something that we condone.

“I thank Mr Lamb for raising this with us and I apologise if this caused any inconvenience.”

Mr Lamb, said: “I was pleased that they have held their hands up and apologised for the actions of the driver in question.

“There’s no doubt it set a bad example and maybe the message will get through to a council workers that they can’t abuse the parking system.”