Campaigners say disabled people cannot afford charges

Some local authorities already charge for disabled parking, while others, such as Plymouth, are considering introducing fees.

Andrea Pierce, chair of the Disability Action Network, said: "Mobility is the biggest concern for disabled people.

"The time it takes for them to access the facilities that might be in the city centre is a big problem for them.

"Although it does not seem a great amount of money to you and I, they are on fixed incomes, so it is a big problem for them."

'Fair level'

Bruce Abbott, of Plymouth, has mobility problems and travels into the city on most days.

He said plans to start charging people with disabilities for parking were unfair, unless current facilities were improved.

I'm paying a financial penalty and a pain penalty and I find that grossly unfair Bruce Abbott

He said: "Other people, abled bodied people, can have a choice.

"They don't have to park there, they can park somewhere else, they can come in on the bus, they can walk to get the service they need.

"I don't have that choice. I'm paying a financial penalty and a pain penalty and I find that grossly unfair."

But Plymouth City Council said it was planning to increase all charges for parking, and that a consultation process was under way.

A spokesman said: "We've tried to pitch this figure of 80p to a �1 at a very fair level, bearing in mind our financial difficulties and their disabilities."