A WOMAN is urging a council to reconsider its decision to charge for disabled parking.
In June, Durham City Council decided to introduce charges for disabled badge holders at its five city centre car parks.
The move followed a district auditor's finding that the council was the city's only off-street parking operator not to levy such charges - and the lack of opposition by Durham City Access Group, which thought charging might discourage abuse of the disabled parking system.
It was also estimated that introducing the fees would save the council £50,000 a year.
Now, almost a month after they took effect, disabled driver Irene Slatter, 59, of Neville's Cross, is calling for them to be revoked.
She said: "Disabled drivers have no choice but to use their cars, whereas able bodied people have always got a choice.
"I had polio when I was 12 and I can't get around without my car. To penalise me for this seems so mean."
Mrs Slatter said she could not understand why charges had been introduced in Durham when disabled parking remained free in Newcastle.
She rejected the view that they discouraged able bodied drivers from abusing the system.
"The disability lobby has said it may stop people from parking in disabled bays but that's nonsense," she said.
"They are also taking the disabled bays out of the Market Place, which means that the centre of Durham will be a no-go area for me.
"I think the council should think again."
David Stewart, senior transportation engineer for Durham City Council, said the chances of a change in policy were "exceedingly small".
He said Durham County Council was funding a shop mobility scheme to replace the Market Place disabled bays.
He added: "The charges are not deemed to be onerous, and I think other councils are moving towards them."
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