The private company that runs Broadway Car Park has said it is ‘committed to reviewing all Blue Badge cases promptly’ in the wake of complaints over fines from disabled drivers using it.

In recent weeks, the Advertiser has received letters from residents who have raised concerns over their parking experience in the temporary surface car park – replacing the demolished multi-storey.

The old Broadway multi-storey car park, run by the Royal Borough, offered hundreds of parking spaces to drivers.

This has caused problems for disabled Blue Badge holders, who are entitled to three hours of free parking on-street or in council-run car parks.

Private car parks do not legally have to accept the Blue Badge scheme, but the company which runs Broadway surface car park, Green Parking, does accept it.

Indeed, the company says this is one of its ‘key priorities.’

Nonetheless, disabled Blue Badge holders have reported getting surprise parking tickets of £85 which they have had to contest.

But the 1960s structure deteriorated, became unsafe and was closed suddenly at the end of 2022 after chunks of concrete fell from the ceiling.

A temporary surface car park at the Broadway site opened in early December 2024, following concerns by retailers in and around the Nicholsons Centre about reduced footfall from loss of parking.

By contrast to the multi-storey, this is privately operated and operates an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which reads number plates, records arrival times and triggers a parking charge notice (PCN) if the driver doesn’t pay.

A spokesperson for Green Parking said that, due to the ‘high number’ of Blue Badge users at this location, a registration scheme was introduced.

If someone is not registered and a parking charge notice is issued, it includes ‘a prominent label’ advising Blue Badge holders to contact Green Parking’s office.

Once a valid Blue Badge is confirmed, the PCN is cancelled and the vehicle added to the company’s ‘Allow List.’

As Blue Badges are issued to individuals rather than vehicles, drivers are also advised to inform Green Parking if they change vehicles.

Having to go through this process is stressful and off-putting, correspondents have said.

Green Parking said the scheme is to ensure that the three hours of free parking is reserved for ‘genuine Blue Badge holders’.

This system has worked fine for ‘hundreds’ of these users, they said.

One letter said there is ‘no clear notice’ of how the system works and the writer had trouble reasoning with the parking staff working there.

When trying to get a parking penalty removed, they said they did not find it easy to use Green Parking’s website or phone system to solve the problem.

By contrast, Green Parking says there is ‘clear signage’ around the site and, during peak periods, site staff assisted with more than 300 registrations to support motorists unfamiliar with the process.

“We recognise that receiving a Parking Charge Notice can be upsetting, particularly for elderly or disabled motorists, and we are committed to reviewing all Blue Badge cases promptly and fairly,” said the spokesperson.

“We continue to monitor the operation of Broadway Car Park and assess further improvements to clarity, accessibility, and user experience.”