Disabled parking
Public car parks
Allerdale operates Public Car Parks in each of its towns,
Keswick, Cockermouth, Workington, Aspatria, Maryport, Silloth and
Wigton and also provides rough parking amenities along the West
Coast A596 and to Allonby to allow visitors the benefit of the
scenic beauty of the Solway Coast.
The quality of car park surfaces is good in towns but is, as
described, rough (or natural) at beauty spots and at Allonby where
the nature of weather and occasional erosion obviates extensive
civil works in areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Within the whole of the Borough a Blue Badge user may park free
of charge provided that their vehicle is parked only and wholly in
a clearly marked bay -whether this is a specific 'disabled' bay or
a normal bay that is available to the general public.
Irrespective of Blue Badge concessions the Council will not
tolerate any parking on any of its laid-out car parks which is
otherwise than in a bay.
The Council will always strictly penalise any 'Blue Badge'
related contravention in the same way that it would penalise
any other contravention and in this respect it has the full
support of the Allerdale Disability Association.
The time that a properly authorised badge holder may park is
normally up to 3 hours except at Workington's Town Centre Car Parks
( Udale Street and Ladies Walk) which are closely located by
Marks & Spencers and the shopping precinct and in Bell Close
Car Park, Keswick where the maximum stay is only 2 hours.
All badge holders must display their badge of authority and a
time clock that shows the time of arrival.
If a Disabled Badge is unreadable due to age or tampering
or is over three years old it may not be accepted and if in doubt
the motorist should pay when using a 'Pay and Display' Car
Park.
Each town has a limited number of specific disabled bays
properly marked and when these are occupied a badge holder may use
any other 'public' bay.
Certain 'disabled' bays are specifically marked with notices
saying 'Wheelchair Users Only'. Where a person parks in these and
is seen not to use a wheelchair either on arrival or on departure
then the vehicle will be penalised irrespective of whether it
displays a badge of authority or not.
In each town a small number of bays may either be marked with
'numbers' or with the word 'Reserved'. Such bays are not available
for the general public (and hence badge holders too).
Disabled badge concessions do not apply on private car
parks. Currently known private parking places include: South Quay,
Maryport; Vulcans Lane, Workington; Rawnsley Hall, Keswick Rugby
Ground, Keswick, Booths Store, Keswick and various sites in
the Borrowdale Valley - motorists should take due care to
check when entering any non-municipal car park which does
not carry signposts stating that it is an Allerdale Borough Council
Car Park.
This is not generally available in Allerdale.
- The purpose of the scheme is to allow you to
visit shops and other places and you should use it with care and
attention to the rules.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that the
badge is used properly
- It is in your own interest that the badge should
retain the respect of other motorists because it identifies you as
someone needing special assistance. Please play your part.
- You must not allow other people to use the
badge
- To reduce the risk of this happening
accidentally, you should remove the badge when ever you are not
using the parking concession. It is illegal for able-bodied people
to use a badge. If they do so, they are liable to a fine of up to
£400.
- This issuing authority can withdraw a badge if
it is misused
- You should not take advantage of the concessions
if you do not intend to leave the car, use a normal car park.
- Don't use the badge simply to allow other
people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the
car