A Glasgow Forum has took its fight for Disabled Parking Bays to Holyrood.
Members of the Knightswood Elderly Forum met with Bill Butler MSP, who sits on the Scottish Parliament’s unique Public Petitions Committee, just hours before it decided to back their petition, pending the outcome of proposed legislation aimed at stopping the abuse of parking spaces reserved for disabled drivers.
Over the last few years the Forum has been campaigning to prevent the improper use of disabled parking bays and to ensure that they are used by registered disabled users only. A study by the ‘Baywatch Campaign’ in 2007 found that one in five accessible bays at supermarket car parks were being used by individuals without Blue Badges. In 2006 the Elderly Forum began the process of petitioning the Parliament, calling for local authorities to be allowed to act.
Their campaign received a boost last year when Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie brought forward a private members bill which, if passed by Parliament, will make disabled parking spaces legally enforceable, preventing the misuse of such parking places.
Mr Butler said:
“I am well aware of the very real problems that many of my constituents have with the abuse of disabled parking bays. Knightswood Elderly Forum asked for my support for the campaign and I was able to assure them that they could count on it.
I would encourage any other groups who care passionately about an issue to follow the example of the Knightswood Elderly Forum and get involved in the Public Petitions process at Holyrood.
Kate Walker, Secretary of Knightswood Elderly Forum, added:
“We are delighted to be here today to be able to see the progress being made with our petition. Something needed to be done to stop these ‘space invaders’ abuse of disabled parking bays. We have handed over a copy of our petition to Bill Butler and we are optimistic that our campaign will bear fruit in the not too distant future.”
Knightswood Forum members with their local MSP, Bill Butler
