By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
A report into the controversial consultation proposing disabled drivers pay for parking in Powys County Council car parks will be published soon.
The proposals, as part of the council's ongoing financial savings, would mean blue badge holders would have to pay to use the Back Lane and Gravel car parks in Newtown.
Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets, Cllr Phyl Davies, has confirmed that the results from this summer’s consultation are being finalised.
Cllr Davies was responding to a question from Cllr Peter Roberts on the issue.
At the meeting, Cllr Roberts shared information from Swansea City Council on a similar scheme.
It revealed that the income that the policy there had brought in just £6,353 to Swansea coffers.
When Powys had looked at changing the policy they believed that £100,000 could be saved.
At the last full council meeting in July, a motion had been passed urging Cllr Davies to abandon the scheme.
In July councillors from all parts of Powys said that they had been inundated with complaints about the proposal.
Cllr Roberts, said: “Given that this policy has failed to gain the support of
the chamber.
“And given it has failed to gain the support of the community and now it appears from the Swansea report it’s going to fail to deliver the savings.
“Would the portfolio holder like to put Blue Badge holders out of their misery and actually abandon the scheme?”
Cllr Davies, replied: “The paper we are putting together on the blue badge parking policy will provide the answers to your questions when it’s finalised.”
The consultation which was extended for an extra month ran from May to July.
The council heard back from over 600 blue badge holders, family members and other residents and organisations.
Their preferred option was to seek a contribution towards parking from blue badge holders where they paid to park for an hour or two but would get another hour free on top.
The consultation found that the majority of respondents wanted the council to find the savings from somewhere else and sustain the current free parking for blue badge holders.
But the council's preferred option was rated as the second best.
