MP fined for disabled bay parking

LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association <info@disabilitylibdems.org.uk>

MP fined for disabled bay parking

June 1, 2007 8:28 AM

A Devon MP has apologised for parking illegally in a disabled bay at Newton Abbot railway station. Anthony Steen, the Conservative MP for Totnes, said he was "rushing" to Westminster and parked in the disabled bay because the car park was full.

He said the station had "an absurd number of handicapped spaces" and the regulations should be looked at. Mr Steen described a constituent who photographed the car and told a local newspaper as "very sneaky".

But his actions have been condemned by the charity Mobilise, which promotes the welfare of disabled people. Director Helen Smith told BBC News there was no defence for parking in a disabled bay. "It's not for him to decide how many disabled spaces there should be," she said. "He could have been denying someone who genuinely needed that space and may have had to return home. It was an abuse and I applaud the warden who issued the fixed penalty."

Mr Steen said there were several vacant disabled bays at the station. "Not that I've ever seen a handicapped person ever use one of them," he said. "Some helpful and public spirited constituent telephoned the Herald-Express to let them know my car was there. It would have been much more useful if they'd telephoned me to let me know my car had a ticket, but they didn't choose to do that and they were anonymous which is a very sneaky thing to do."

Anthony Steen said it was his first ticket in 24 years The MP said while he accepted he had parked in the wrong space and deserved his ticket, he believes the station has too many disabled parking bays. "Every time I go to Newton Abbot station, I'm going to photograph the handicapped spaces because I can tell you none of them are used," he added.

Disabled driver Fergus Millar said Mr Steen's actions were wrong. "It was thoughtless and a bad example from someone who should know better," he said.

Mr Steen said there was a "disproportionate amount" of disabled parking spaces at stations across the country.

"Of course the handicapped have got to be given provisions, but not against the interests of the majority. I certainly shouldn't have parked where I did and I'm very sorry I did," he said, adding that it was his first parking ticket in 24 years.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party Central Office said: "If he is going to pay the fine then that will be the end of the matter."