DISABLED drivers and market traders will be hit hardest by proposals to increase the cost of parking in Peterborough.

As part of a major shake-up, the city's 8,000 blue badge holders would have to pay to park in city council car parks for the first time, while the cost of market traders' permits would more than double by 2011.

The council also plans to introduce "zonal parking", meaning car parks closer to the city centre, such as Car Haven, would be more expensive than those further away.

See the list of proposals below

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Meanwhile, the cost of residents' parking permits would rise from £15 to £18, and the evening rate in car parks – between 5.30pm and 7am – would go up from £1.20 to £1.50.

It is envisaged that the changes, which could be introduced as soon as September, would save the council £200,000 and increase income by £154,000.

The largest slice of that income – £40,000 – would come from the introduction of zonal parking, which would see 50p added to the price of three-hour tickets in short stay car parks and four and five-hour tickets in long stay car parks.

Another £30,000 would be generated by the introduction of a scratchcard system for visitor permits costing £15 for a book of 10 permits, which a 19-page parking services review admits could provoke public "resilience and opposition".

Today, the vice-chairman of Peterborough-based campaign group Disabled Voices Erik Vitins called the proposal to charge blue badge holders to park "outrageous".

He said: "Once again we have not been consulted. The idea seems to have been driven by people with no clue what it is like to be in a wheelchair. Put them in one for an hour and they would have a hissy fit."

Accepting that charging blue badge holders would be "contentious", the council's traffic manager, Peter Tebb, said: "Some councils allow disabled drivers to park for free and some make a charge. The ultimate decision lies with the members of the cabinet."

Referring to market traders, he said: "We are bringing them in line with season ticket prices that members of the public pay. Peterborough's car parks are still cheaper compared to surrounding cities."

Cabinet member for environment and community safety councillor Wayne Fitzgerald added: "Being disabled does not make you less financially able to pay a parking fee.

"It is not about making a profit for the council, but about re-investing that money and paying for things such as park and ride."

Part of the income could be used to upgrade ticket machines and employ an additional night-time enforcement officer.

Members of the public can attend the council environment scrutiny panel meeting, when the plans will be discussed, at the town hall, on Thursday, at 7pm.

Proposals for a new ticket system

• Abolish 20-minute tickets in long and short stay car parks, replacing them with 30-minute tickets, costing 50p.


• Increase the cost of three-hour tickets from £3 to £3.50 and with- draw four-hour tickets in short stay car parks.


• Increase the cost of four-hour tickets from £3.50 to £4, and five- hour tickets from £4.50 to £5 in long stay car parks.


• Scrap existing charges of £5.50, £6, £7 and £8 for seven, eight, nine and 10-hour tickets respectively in long stay car parks, with all tickets costing £5.


• Increase season ticket prices by three per cent annually.


• Increase the monthly cost of a market trader's permit from £22 to £30 after a year, £40 after two years and £50 after three.


• Remove free parking for blue badge holders in council car parks.


• Raise the fee for residents' permits from £15 per year to £18. Permits for a second vehicle will cost £36, and for a third, £54.


• Introduce a scratchcard system for visitors – £15 per book of 10 permits, limited to 10 books per property per year.


• Introduce a carers' permit at a cost of £18 per year