Resort's lack of disabled parking bays 'shocking'

Brian Roberts uncovered the data after repeatedly struggling to find a space

There are fewer than 100 disabled parking spaces for more than 10,000 Blue Badge-holders in Blackpool, it has emerged.

The figure was discovered by Brian Roberts, who is from Blackpool, after he repeatedly found it "near impossible" to park in the Lancashire seaside resort.

Using Freedom of Information laws, 66-year-old Mr Roberts found there were 96 spaces but 10,921 people with the badges - about one space for every 113 disabled drivers.

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: "There are plenty of places to park for people with a disability. We have hundreds of disabled parking bays across the town."

They added: "People with a blue badge can also park in any of 3,000 pay and display bays for free or in any of the thousands of car parking spaces throughout Blackpool."

'It's scandalous'

Mr Roberts said he had compared the figures with those of Brighton where he found there were 1,951 spaces and 12,162 badge holders.

In Bournemouth he found there were 302 spaces with 21,124 blue badge holders while in Eastbourne there were 198 spaces and 4,960 badge holders.

Mr Roberts said: "Compared with other towns, it's scandalous.

"We need more disabled bays. During the day there's hardly any. When you drive around they're all taken."

However, Blackpool Council said: "It's wrong to compare Blackpool and Brighton on this matter.

"Brighton is twice the size and has double the population."

The disabled bays on Talbot Road become a taxi rank in the evenings

After 18:00 GMT, some of the spaces become part of taxi ranks, meaning Blue Badge holders no longer have priority.

"We're not catered for at all after six," said Mr Roberts.

"If you want to go for a meal or a show there's no place to park."

He added: "It's all very well Blackpool promoting itself as inclusive and diverse but as far as people with disabilities, it's anything but."

Mr Roberts said he would be taking his complaints to a meeting of the full council on 24 September.

"I would like to see the disabled bays that change over remain as disabled bays 24 hours, like most other towns in the country, and also a few more disabled bays throughout the town," he said.