SHOCKING figures show the number of cars being towed for suspected abuse of disabled blue badges is soaring.

Enforcement officers clamping down on misuse uplifted 270 cars from April to December last year – 72 more than from April 2017 to April 2018 and the highest amount since a 2015 law change.

Blue badges offer an essential lifeline to people suffering with severe mobility issues, giving them priority parking across the city.

But the alarming statistics, released by council-owned City Parking, also reveal 377 badges were confiscated for misuse between April and December 2018.

Glasgow Disability Alliance has condemned blue badge abuse and “inconsiderate drivers”, saying it has an upsetting and disempowering effect on people with disabilities.

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It can also lead to harassment of people with hidden impairments, the organisation reports.

Depute CEO Marianne Scobie said: “While we are pleased to see the council acting on powers to confiscate badges and uplift cars due to the fraudulent use of blue badges, we remain concerned by the misuse of blue badge parking spaces by those without badges, which frequently occurs across the city, on-street and within car parks.

“Many disabled people rely on being able to park as closely as possible to their place of work, leisure facilities, or other destination, but frequently have to contend with non-badge holders taking up these spaces.

“Disabled people and particularly those with hidden impairments, are often subjected to abuse and harassment from those who deem them to be misusing a badge if they ‘don’t look disabled’.

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“Added to this, inconsiderate drivers parking on pavements and across kerbs prevent many disable people from travelling around, especially those with visual impairments, wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments.”

Ms Scobie said the impact is that many disabled people do not feel able or safe to participate in their communities.

She added: "They may be unable to get to work, miss vital appointments and often have to spend considerable time dealing with parking issues.

“These barriers to inclusion are upsetting, exhausting, disempowering and completely unnecessary.”

Since April 2015, local authorities have been allowed to confiscate fraudulent disabled badges and those which they suspect are being misused.

The total number of cases of suspected misuse between April and December is 1,014, with 637 incidents where badges weren’t confiscated.

This compares to 1,180 cases from April 2017 to April 2018, when only 198 cars were towed and 407 badges were confiscated.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Blue badges are invaluable to those who have a disability, allowing unlimited parking in on-street pay and display parking bays and in dedicated disabled persons’ spaces.

“Blue badge misuse prevents genuine badge holders from accessing these spaces and undermines their quality of life.

“Tackling badge misuse is an essential part of the effort to ensure people with disabilities can participate fully in the life of the city.

“Our parking attendants work closely with our anti-fraud specialists to identify instances where blue badges are being misused.

“Whenever we have robust and reliable information on blue badge misuse we will take the appropriate action.”

The council’s Operational Performance and Delivery Scrutiny Committee will discuss the figures this week.

What do you think? Have you been unable to park in a designated bay. Get in touch.