MOTORISTS who abuse disabled parking bays in York can expect to incur the wrath of council chiefs during a day of enforcement.

City of York Council has decided to crack down on drivers who park in bays allocated to disabled motorists, and will be handing out tickets to those who flout regulations on Wednesday, November 9.

More than 600 parking tickets were issued to people abusing the city's 122 Blue Badge parking spaces in the last 12 months, and York's Disabled Advisory Group has highlighted the issue as a particular problem for local residents.

Julian Horsler, the council's equality officer, said: "Abuse of Blue Badge/disabled parking bays is a national problem, and is a continuing issue in York.

"By parking in a designated bay without a Blue Badge, motorists are preventing people with severe walking difficulties being able to park close to shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

"It can have a huge impact on their lives and there are many cases of Blue Badge holders being forced to turn round and go home simply because they can't find any where to park close enough to their destination. The council's parking attendants always issue Penalty Charge Notices to people who are illegally parking in a Blue Badge bay, but we hope that a designated enforcement day will raise the profile of the problem."

More than 8,500 Blue Badges have been issued in York, each lasting for three years.

They are aimed at helping people with a permanent or substantial disability which means they are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty walking.

Badges are issued to people, not vehicles.

The city's transport chiefs are urging anyone who sees someone using a Blue Badge bay illegally to phone the council's parking helpline on 0800 1381119.

The helpline operators will then notify York's parking attendants by text so they can deal with the problem - usually within 15 to 30 minutes of taking the original call.

Further information about disabled access in York is available through the Guide For Disabled Access.

It is available from the council's equality officer, Mr Horsler. Phone 01904 551704.

Updated: 10:44 Thursday, November 03, 2005