THE leader of Cornwall Council said an urgent review of current policy for people with disabilities to pay for disabled parking spaces near their homes has been called for.

Adam Paynter, who is also the Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin, said: “We have a responsibility to support people to have active lives in their local community, which is why I have asked for an urgent review. People with a disability should not be disadvantaged by a policy and our practice needs to be consistent with the rest of the country.”

The council has a scheme where blue badge holders who are residents of Cornwall may qualify for a disabled parking space near their home.

Currently, to provide a disabled parking space for a resident, the council goes through a legal process to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order. This involves public consultation and normally costs around £3,300.

The council will be consulting with residents and disability groups in Cornwall to explore options and consider best practices used by other local authorities.

In the meantime, the council has immediately suspended any further charges for individual disabled people while the review is undertaken.

The findings of the review will come to cabinet with the aim of completing the review for the start of the next financial year.

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are legal agreements, which allow the council or the police to enforce regulations including speed limits, on-street parking and one way streets.

Commenting, Conservative Cllr Richard Pears, who called for the near £4,000 charge that Cornwall Council levels at disabled people to be brought in line with the nominal or free charge offered by councils across the country, said: “I am pleased to see Cornwall Council take action on the same day I brought this motion before Full Council, to move towards ending these unfair and discriminatory charges on disabled people in Cornwall.

“The current measures were effectively a ‘disability tax’ and I am pleased that Cornwall Councillors from across the political spectrum agreed with me in supporting our motion to change this.

“I am pleased that the ruling administration has seen sense and agrees with us that this needs to change. I am glad to have highlighted this issue and helped find a solution, and will continue, along with my colleagues, to lobby both the leader and the cabinet to make these sensible changes in the best interests of the people of Cornwall.”