From 1st October the new tax disc changes will impact on disabled people looking to park their tax exempt vehicles in Bournemouth and the Council are keen to find a cost-effective solution for the benefit of disabled drivers and passengers.
Bournemouth Council is asking people to keep their nil disabled tax disc on their vehicle even after it expires. Currently people who are eligible for a nil disabled tax exempt vehicle can park for free in Bournemouth Council car parks. However, the new Vehicle Excise Duty system removes the possibility for a visual tax disc check.
Bournemouth Council is working hard to gain clarification from the DVLA on the impact of the new system on the way their ‘nil tax’ parking concession for the disabled is administered.
Councillor Michael Filer, cabinet member for transport, cleansing and waste, said: “The clear message we have received from consulting with the disability group DOTS has been that the parking concession for nil tax disabled vehicles is highly valued by their members. Whilst we wait for action from the DVLA on this issue, we ask people with nil tax disabled vehicles to please keep your tax discs on display when parking your car in one of our car parks. This will assist our civil enforcement officers and enable them to identify your vehicle as nil tax quickly. ”
Jonathan Waddington-Jones, Chief Executive of DOTS Disability, commented: “This fiasco is entirely of DVLA’s making. Had they consulted disabled people about the potential impact of their new policy they would have foreseen the problems that they’ve presented to local authorities. The parking concession is vital to many disabled people who have no alternative to car travel. We’re very pleased to be working in partnership with Bournemouth Council to find a solution – including putting pressure on DVLA.”
