Disabled parking charges reconsidered in Monmouthshire

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Friday, 15 February 2019 16:11

By Niall Griffiths - Local Democracy Reporter

Controversial plans to introduce parking charges for disabled drivers in Monmouthshire have been scrapped by the local authority.

Opposition had mounted against bringing a charge against blue badge holders – saving £45,000 – since Monmouthshire council announced their 2019/20 draft budget last year.

Charging the ‘most disadvantaged in society’ would send a message of a council ‘without a heart’, according to the Disability Advice Project.

But after public consultation, the Conservative administration has shelved the idea and will not revisit it for the remainder of the political term up to 2022.

The council has also committed to improving car parking enforcement and funding improved signage and ‘associated infrastructure’ for disabled parking users.

A 10 per cent hike in parking charges will go ahead for consideration but parking on Sundays will be free for two hours, with visitors asked to pay £1 to stay longer.

Charges to heavy goods vehicles parking at Abergavenny bus station, and the reintroduction of fees for Christmas parking, have also been reconsidered.

The council had planned to cut two teachers from its special learning difficulties service, but this has been deferred pending a wider review.

Councillor Phil Murphy, cabinet member for resources, said the authority had listened and that the proposed changes were based on what matters to residents.

But he said the budget-setting process was informed by a £600,000 reduction in Welsh Government funding – the largest cut of any local authority in Wales.

“Monmouthshire receives the lowest funding per head of population of any local authority in Wales,” he said.

“Our approach continues to be to change, improve and adapt our services rather than to close them down.

“We refuse to lose our ambition for the county although financial realities are restraining our abilities somewhat.”

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