A new blue badge for people with disabilities is being launched as part of the Government's programme to crackdown on the widespread abuse of the scheme.
The redesigned badge, available from New Year's Day, will be much harder to alter, copy or forge and will be more robust.
It will also be more expensive, with the cost of badges rising from £2 to £10, to cover the costs of administration, production and postage. This is the first price increase in almost 30 years.
It follows the Government's announcement earlier this year to modernise the blue badge scheme, which currently costs the country an estimated £46m per year and allows badge holders to park on yellow lines and avoid parking charges.
There are 24,000 blue badges in circulation in Cheshire East and approximately 50 are renewed daily.
Councillor David Brown, Cabinet member with responsibility for performance and capacity, said: "This national initiative will help Cheshire East to combat forgeries which can lead to legitimate blue badge holders losing out. The changes will also improve customer service and speed up the time it takes to renew them.
"Residents will still be able to apply directly to Cheshire East Council for a badge, which will be valid for three years.
"Holders will be able to park for free in all Cheshire East car parks and on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, except where there is a ban on loading or unloading."
Cheshire East Council is undertaking a full engagement programme with stakeholders and groups affected by these changes.
Madelyn Bridge, Chief Executive for Age UK Cheshire East, said: "The blue badge scheme is essential to anyone with severe mobility problems, keeping them active and engaged in the community for as long as possible. Anything that can be done to reduce fraud and keep the scheme fair for the people who really need it, has to be a good thing."
For more information on the changes to the blue badge, or to apply for one, visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/bluebadge or call Cheshire East Council on 0300 123 5020.
Comments
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The council and the police are no doubt still arguing about who is responsible for parking control. The sad truth is that nobody is doing it. Cheshire East are always saying that budgets are under pressure, yet are not prepared to invest in issuing parking tickets. If this service was outsourced, the contractor would make an absolute fortune.
My friend works at a local hotel with a gym and she always laughs at the amount of people that use a badge in a disabled space and then go in to use the treadmill for an hour.
I hate it when you voice your opinion and it is blindingly obvious that you are right. There is parking mayhem on many roads. Pavements can be parked on with impunity.
The revenue from illegal parking could build a by-pass, or at least fill some potholes.
It might have been logical at 4 o'clock in the morning, but not in the clear light of day. If that was a joke, it wasn't a very good one.
Not only that, but such is their lack of regard or consideration, they often park across two spots because the effort required to turn the steering wheel so their car fills just one spot is too much for them, too.
Alan Davies is right. The lack of enforcement simply condones the staggering selfishness of the 'Me Firsts'. Sadly, though, I suspect that even if they were fined, this would not deter many of them as their attitude is, if I can afford the fine, I can park where ever I choose.