EVESHAM’S Mayor has hit out at the new operators of the Riverside Shopping Centre car park for their decision to charge disabled badge holders for parking.
Coun Fred Kaler has spoken of his anger after signs appeared in the car park last week stating Euro Car Parks are the new operators from tomorrow (Friday) and blue badge holders would now have to buy a pay and display ticket.
Under the previous operators of the car park disabled badge holders were able to park for free. Private car park owners must provide disabled parking bays, but it is entirely up to them whether or not they charge blue badge holders.
Euro Car Parks is also hiking parking charges at the town centre car park from their previous levels when drivers used to be able to park all day for just £1. Up to one hour will now cost £0.80, up to two hours £1.50, up to three hours £2.00, up to four hours £3.00 and to park for 24 hours it will now cost £4.00.
Speaking to the Observer, Coun Kaler said the town should have been consulted on the changes and said residents should ‘not be treated in this way.’
“I am concerned to the point of anger by the attitude of Euro Car Parks,” he said.
“After contacting them asking them whether or not they would continue to have designated parking bays for disabled badge holders their response was what I can best describe as a could not care less attitude.
“They appeared not to want to discuss this question, which I thought was a reasonable question to ask after reading their notice which they state is an ‘important customer notice’ informing disabled badge holders they must purchase a valid pay and display ticket.
“While I understand this is a private company, and I’m not questioning their right to increase charges, our community should not in my opinion be treated in this way. We should have been consulted and not just on entering the car park to be informed by a customer notice.”
Euro Car Parks had not provided a response to the comments by the time the Observer went to press.
