WHEELCHAIR users and carers reacted with anger after Waverley council leaders rubber-stamped “illegal” and “discriminatory” parking charges for Blue Badge holders on Tuesday evening.

In a quick fire meeting of Waverley’s executive committee, lasting just 19 minutes, councillors agreed to remove the three-hours free parking provision for disabled drivers in the borough’s council-run car parks.

Waverley surprised many when it introduced the charges in April - only agreeing to postpone enforcement of the fees, pending a review, after a public outcry including a protest petition that has since mustered almost 700 signatures.

Following consultation with campaigners, who have expressed concern about the accessibility of ticket machines in the borough, the council has since agreed a number of concessions, including:

• Making its own free parking permit available to people on a greater number of benefits.

• Offering all Blue Badge holders a free second hour of parking.

• New drop curbs or ramps up to ticket machines nearest to disabled bays.

• And more signage for the pay-by-phone service closer to disabled bays.

However, more than a dozen disabled people and carers attended the meeting in Godalming on Tuesday, and afterwards expressed dismay at councillors’ decision to reintroduce the charges.

Jill Sandham, 65, a carer from Haslemere, said: “I was appalled there was no discussion. I think they have targeted a vulnerable group rather than hitting people who are going to create more fuss.

“The council says they have circulated all this information in a timely way, but they haven’t emailed Blue Badge holders and we found out by accident with no notice whatsoever. The information sharing has been really badly handled.”

Wheelchair user Anna Sartori, 79, from Walton on Thames, also condemned the effect the charges will have on people who, like her, live outside of the borough and do not qualify for Waverley’s permit.

Anna told The Herald: “I am a fairly frequent visitor to the borough - meeting friends and having lunch, and occasionally shopping - but because I don’t live in this area I won’t be coming here for anything.

“Why should I pay for the privilege of being further discomforted? I’ll be 80 this year, I lost my husband last year and he was wonderful looking after me, but now I haven’t got anyone - the rest of my family live in North Yorkshire. What am I supposed to do?

“Life is already quite expensive because there are lots of extra costs to do with disability and I shall not be paying for the privilege of parking down here.”

George Gelder, 70, from Elstead, added: “They’re saying we can still park for free if we’re on benefits but people outside the borough can’t. Isn’t that discrimination?

“Is this going to become a no-go area for the disabled? Does Waverley not want disabled people shopping in their towns?

“Three years ago this council promised us a carer, but they’ve delivered nothing. They’ve also taken all the emergency buttons off disabled people unless they pay £100 a year, and they’ve recently closed the disabled loos in Godalming.

“I’ve been disabled since 1947 and I’ve seen every possible disability you can imagine. Believe me, I will give a disabled person a pound rather than take a pound. It’s a disgrace.”

Gordon McCracken, 35, from Haslemere, also attended the meeting to support his disabled father, and afterwards claimed Waverley’s actions breach the Equality Act 2010.

He said the proposed charges for Blue Badge holders were first approved as part of the annual budget setting process during a full council meeting on February 21 - but an Equalities Act screening assessment was not undertaken until March, which Gordon believes makes a mockery of the legislation.

The council claims it has since undertaken a full Equalities Impact Assessment, having confirmed in its initial screening that the charges would have an “unintended” physical impact on disabled people.

However, Gordon believes Waverley has breached the Equality Act by not assessing the impacts on disabled people earlier, and has called on Waverley to revoke its decision.

He said: “Judicial guidance states: for god’s sake make sure you do an assessment beforehand, else anything you do afterwards is pointless and it makes a joke of the act, because a decision is already made.

“There is sufficient evidence to suggest that no assessment was made prior to the February 21 decision, and as a result of that everything they’ve done afterwards is unlawful.”

David Beaman, chairman of South West Surrey Disabled Alliance Network, described Waverley’s concessions as a “few crumbs on the table, and added after the meeting: “Waverley Borough Council prides itself on being dementia friendly, tonight it showed itself to be disabled unfriendly.”

Jim Edwards, portfolio holder for environment at Waverley, said: “We felt charging Blue Badge holders to park in our car parks, who can afford it, was the fairest thing to do in light of the financial difficulties facing the council.

“Due to Government cuts we had to make savings and find new ways of generating revenue in order to maintain our front-line services.

“Free car parking will continue to be available for those Blue Badge holders who receive income support and for those with severe disabilities. They will qualify for a free permit.

“What this review has shown us is that, before charges are implemented, we need to make sure our car parks are accessible.

“The charging will be enforced once all the works are completed. It is likely this will be in October.”