I UNDERSTAND John Pinchbeck's view regarding blue badge holders and why they should pay for hospital parking like everyone else.

However, I would just like raise the alternate view.

Many blue badge holders have regular treatment at hospital outpatient departments.

Many, if not all, will be in receipt of the mobility component of Disabled Living Allowance.

Each year there is a very modest increase in the value of this allowance.

However, in real terms the huge increase in the cost of petrol has eroded the value of that allowance.

To now have to pay for parking at the hospital will have an immense impact on the value of that allowance.

Personally there will be weeks when I will have to budget an additional £9 per week from that allowance (not including extra petrol costs).

A considerable sum out of a limited pension.

Society makes concessions to disabled persons to attempt to improve quality of life – charging for disabled parking will have a enormous impact on the quality of life of many.

Why does the authority see the need to buck the trend when in the rest of the country they are abolishing all hospital car park fees?

Also, can anyone tell me just exactly what are the patient services that these increased fees will help maintain?

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