That’s the message from a Middlesbrough Councillor who is bringing personal experience to a renewed campaign.

The Blue Badge scheme provides parking for people with disabilities who travel as either drivers or passengers, enabling them to park nearer to where they need to go than a standard parking space might.

Councillor David Coupe is renewing his call to able-bodied motorists to obey the law, and show respect to those in need.

His campaign comes as a BBC investigation revealed that Blue Badges are being faked, doctored, stolen and sold online, with local authorities limited in the action they are able to take due to dwindling resources.

There are currently 73 dedicated disabled bays in Middlesbrough Council-operated town centre car parks, and 65 on-street bays.

However the Stainton & Thornton ward Councillor says he regularly encounters disabled bays being misused by motorists who fail to display a Blue Badge or who display a Blue Badge but are not the badge holder and the badge holder isn’t present when the vehicle is parked.

He says he has encountered abuse of disabled parking provision at hospitals, supermarkets and Council car parks.

Councillor Coupe – whose partner Val uses a Blue Badge – urged drivers to be considerate of those in need and to park responsibly, and reminded those tempted to flout the law that they face a hefty fine if caught.

Cllr Coupe said: “My partner is disabled and we’ve noticed an increase in the number of people using disabled parking bays without the necessary Blue Badge.

“We often struggle to find a parking space – we’re not alone in this, and that is completely unacceptable.

“Disabled parking bays provide an important lifeline for those who, for any number of reasons, need easier access to a whole range of services and amenities.

“For those without disability to use them is utterly selfish, and we need to put an end to this lazy, selfish and unacceptable behaviour.”

The national Blue Badge scheme makes parking available for those with disabilities travelling as either drivers or passengers.

Motorists using these bays are required to display a valid Blue Badge in their vehicle - misuse is a criminal offence and can result in prosecution, a fine of up to £1,000, and the confiscation of the badge.

In Middlesbrough 676 penalty charge notices have been issued between last September and the end of August for failure to clearly display a valid Blue Badge while parked in a disabled parking bay.

As well as enforcement during regular patrols, Civil Enforcement Officers carry out targeted inspections if they have reason to believe a badge is being misused or specific facilities are being misused.

Middlesbrough Council’s counter-fraud service providers Veritau carried out a Blue Badge Day of Action in May, with enforcement officers examining 42 Blue Badges displayed in parked vehicles and an investigation under way into a potential case of misuse.

Councillor Peter Gavigan, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability, said: “Disabled parking bays are there for those who really need them, and to abuse them is simply unacceptable.

“Councillor Coupe is entirely right to raise this as a concern, and to remind people to behave responsibly and considerately.

“We work hard to ensure our town centre is accessible to as many people as possible, and the provision of disabled parking bays is a key part of that.

“We are determined to stamp this out, and those tempted to break the law can expect to receive a penalty charge notice.”

For more information on the Blue Badge disabled parking scheme visit Disabled parking (Blue Badges) | Middlesbrough Council