MP welcomes blue badge parking reprieve

BLUE badge holders in Moray whose badges have expired are being given a reprieve from parking attendants.

The move is due to a backlog in the system for renewals.

Moray Health and Social Care Partnership confirmed that an agreement is in place with parking attendants who will not issue penalties for expired badges, but instead attach a warning note to contact the relevant transport officer at Moray Council who will discuss each individual case.

If the expiration is the result of the ongoing backlog in applications, then the penalty will be waived.

The news was welcomed by Moray MP Douglas Ross, who raised a case on the matter on behalf of a constituent in Elgin.

The constituent got in touch with Mr Ross after she and her family feared she would receive fined for parking with an expired badge while attending medical appointments in Elgin.

Mr Ross said: “I am pleased that Moray Council and Moray Health and Social Care Partnership have put an agreement in place to address the problems this backlog is causing.

“Local people are understandably concerned that they may receive a fine for parking with an expired blue badge, despite having gone through the correct process of applying for renewal.

“I asked for a waiver to be put in place for people who find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own.

“This response is a very positive development and will mean people who have applications pending will not be hit with fines.

“I hope this will provide some reassurance to people whose badges are close to expiration or have already lapsed. Many people around Moray are highly dependent on their blue badges to get around safely and particularly to attend medical appointments.”