Bucks councillor alleges new changes mean disabled motorists might have to pay for parking

The prospect was raised by Cllr Chris Chilton during a parking and infrastructure update at a meeting of High Wycombe Town Committee

Councillor Chilton said significant changes to public car parks were coming forward and claimed they were being driven by Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet.

He claims they could include charges for motorcycles and disabled motorists to use council-run car parks, alongside changes to parking stay times.

He told the meeting: “There are some significant changes to public car parks that are coming through, driven by the cabinet, which are going to be quite controversial.

“Motorcycles, they’re going to have to start paying; the disabled are going to have to start paying to use our car parks.”

However, Buckinghamshire Council has not confirmed that the specific changes mentioned by Cllr Chilton will be introduced.

The authority said it regularly reviews charges, operating hours and enforcement across its car parks and on-street parking.

Steve Bowles, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We regularly look at parking charges, operating hours and enforcement across our car parks and on-street parking.

“Any proposed changes would go to a public consultation where people are able to give their views before any final decisions are made.”

The council’s response did not specify which car parks could be affected, what charges might apply or when any consultation could begin.

Cllr Chilton also said the review could provide an opportunity to consider exceptions to standard parking arrangements.

He said a number of people had contacted him about the possibility of subsidised parking on Fridays and Sundays for those attending religious services.

Cllr Chilton said the committee could consider proposing exceptions to the standard parking terms and conditions in the near future.

No decision was made on possible exemptions at the meeting.

Any proposed changes to parking charges or arrangements would be subject to public consultation before a final decision was made.

Blue Badge holders can currently park free in Buckinghamshire’s on-street disabled bays and at on-street parking meters and pay-and-display machines, according to the council’s website.

However, the authority warns that different restrictions can apply in off-street car parks, including those operated by councils.

The prospect comes just months after parking charges were increased across Buckinghamshire.

Most tariffs rose by between 10p and 20p, while the price of a first resident’s parking permit increased from £66 to £73.

At High Wycombe’s Wycombe Swan multi-storey car park, the charge for up to 30 minutes rose from 70p to 80p, while an hour’s parking increased from £1.20 to £1.30.