Disabled drivers must pay to park

Disabled blue badge holders will be helping to bridge Oldham Council’s budget gap when they pay to park on local authority car parks.

The charges are part of a £1 million savings and efficiency scheme ahead of the Government’s final financial settlement for local councils in December.

Town centre car park charges and market rents will be frozen for the second year running, but blue badge holders will be made to pay.

Councillor Lynne Thompson said: “This is a key part of our economic strategy, to protect jobs by supporting local traders during this difficult time.”

“We are also proposing to cease free parking for disabled badge holders in council car parks, in line with private car parks and the policy of other authorities.

“The purpose of the blue badge scheme is to reserve parking in convenient locations and allow badge holders to park on the highway near to their destinations, rather than to be a discount scheme.

“The proposed savings show that the council has a firm grip on its finances and that we are preparing for greater efficiencies in a prudent fashion.

“We are reviewing every single item of our expenditure in order to continue delivering the best possible value for public money.”

The council has also published its remaining budget proposals for 2011/12 and identified £843,000 of possible savings.

Together with the proposed changes to the council’s fees and charges, the two reports identify around £1 million in savings with the loss of four council posts.

Pending review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee tonight, they will go to Cabinet on December 6.