More choices for disabled drivers

Making it even easier to park in the city

Access for drivers with a disability will become even better as a result of the new Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009, which came into force on 1 October.

While the rules for using disabled parking bays remain the same, the Act will allow councils to enforce the usage of ‘advisory bays’ located outside of the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

At present, these advisory bays are marked as a disabled space. However, their usage cannot be enforced and blue badge holders must rely on the goodwill of neighbours to keep them free.

A transition period will take place over the next 24 months to allow for the new enforcement procedures to be put in place.

Currently there are 150 disabled on-street parking places located within the CPZ, all of which are fully enforceable.

Additionally, residents who hold a disabled persons’ blue badge within the CPZ will still be able to obtain an exempt residential parking permit free of charge – if all other criteria are met.     

Advisory bays audit

Outside the CPZ, an audit is already under way to identify advisory disabled bays and assess whether they continue to be necessary, with a qualifying person living nearby.

This audit is taking place over 12 months and, some time after it is complete, disabled bays that are no longer required will be removed, returning the spaces to general parking use.

This also presents the opportunity for areas that are in need of disabled bays to be identified, based on applications from disabled people and checks on the suitability of streets.

It is anticipated that full enforcement will be in place within 12 months of the audit being complete in 2011.

If you don’t already have a bay and feel you might qualify, please e-mail clarence@edinburgh.gov.uk or phone 0800 23 23 23.