CONCERNS have been raised about people abusing disabled parking in Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council’s Place Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday and heard issues relating to people obtaining a blue badge, as well as concerns with drivers abusing the system.

Gordon Pybus, chair of Darlington Association on Disability, criticised the council for not offering home visits for people unable to get out to be photographed for their parking badge.

He also claimed the situation had been made more challenging by the removal of disabled parking bays near the Town Hall.

But David Alley, customer services manager at the council, said house bound people did not “qualify” for the scheme, before adding a system was in place for those who struggled to walk to the town hall.

“The purpose of the scheme is to allow people to park closer to their destination, and those who are housebound do not qualify.

“There is a service in place where we can go to their car and take the photograph so they don’t have to go to the photo booth.”

Mr Pybus also said a report put forward at the meeting only addressed concerns about obtaining a blue badge, and not people abusing the system.

“Enforcement still needs to be looked out – it is a really serious issue” he said.

Bill Westland, assistant director of regulatory services, said the council does not get many complaints about blue badges, but admitted it was a difficult issue to manage.

“For example, if my wife uses my blue badge, how does a parking warden catch me?

“It is very difficult – we would need significantly more resources to do be able to catch everyone who abuses the system.”

Mr Alley also confirmed there was no way of checking if a photograph issued with a blue badge application was genuine, as they do not insist on receiving photographic identification.

Mr Pybus proposed launching a monthly campaign to warn people against abusing blue badges.

“The service has worked in the past and it will male people think twice.”

Mr Westland said he supported relaunching the campaign.

“If people are made aware of the issue, then they are less likely to the chance.”

Cllr Bob Carson, ward councillor for Pierremont and chair of the meeting, said: “It is important that the most vulnerable people in our society get support when they need it.