A disabled driver expresses frustration over unclear Blue Badge parking rules at local hospitals, leading to fines and confusion for users
Chorley: An 85-year-old man named Norman Dean is really upset about the parking rules for disabled drivers at Chorley and Preston hospitals. He says they’re just too confusing and not helpful at all.
Norman, who lives in Whittle-le-Woods, points out that the way things are set up makes it harder for blue badge holders. They often end up walking further than they should, which defeats the purpose of having priority parking.
He hasn’t been fined himself, but he knows plenty of others who have. It’s a real hassle, especially since blue badge holders have been able to park for free at hospitals across England since 2021.
At these hospitals, they use automatic number plate recognition cameras to track cars. When you leave, you have to enter your registration number at a kiosk, and it tells you how much to pay based on how long you’ve been parked.
But here’s the kicker: to avoid paying, blue badge holders need to register their vehicle at the hospital office. Norman says this is a pain because many disabled folks get rides from different people, so they have to keep going back to the office every time they arrive in a different car.
He explained, “If I can’t drive one day and someone takes me, they could get a £70 fine just for having my blue badge in their car. That’s just wrong!”
Norman also mentioned that everywhere else, he can park in any car as long as he displays his blue badge. But at these hospitals, the rules are different, and it’s really frustrating.
He added that the distance to the registration office and some misleading signs make things even worse. “These are disabled people who might struggle to walk far. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
He also pointed out that there’s a sign in the disabled parking area directing people to pay kiosks, even though blue badge holders don’t need to pay. “The rules should be clear on those machines so people don’t accidentally pay when they don’t have to,” he said.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reached out to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust about these concerns. A spokesperson explained that the system requires blue badge holders to register because it’s based on vehicles, not individuals.
They mentioned that while only one vehicle can be registered at a time, changes can be made via email, so repeat trips to the office aren’t necessary. They also promised to review the signage to make sure everything is clear and correct.
Norman’s story highlights a real issue that needs addressing, and hopefully, the trust will make the necessary changes to help everyone out.
