A NEW car park charge of £4 per day for blue badge holders will be introduced Royal Surrey County Hospital from Monday, October 16.

Blue badge holders will be charged for the first time in Waverley’s car parks from Monday, October 23.

Waverley contractor Hobart Paving will install accessibility ramps, hand rails and dropped kerbs around some of the ticket machines in line with Equality Act guidelines, over the next three weeks.

The move follows Waverley Borough Council’s decision to remove three hours’ free parking provision for disabled drivers in the borough’s council-run car parks.

As of October 23, normal tariffs will apply to park in both disabled bays and normal bays, but blue badge holders will also receive one additional hour of parking for free, when purchasing one or more hours and displaying their blue badge.

New signage will also be placed close to disabled bays to explain how to pay using the RingGo service, so disabled drivers don’t need to get to the ticket machines to access the information.

Free permits are available to blue badge holders living in Waverley who receive one of the qualifying benefits. They entitle the permit holder to park for free in Waverley car parks for up to three hours in disabled bays or all day in normal bays.

Anyone entitled to a permit is encouraged to apply.

They can do so by calling 01483 523408 or visiting www.waverley.gov.uk/disabledparking