Victory for pensioners over street car parking

Pensioners have won a campaign to be allowed to use their season tickets for parking in pay-and-display spaces at Load Street in Bewdley.

Many had not realised their tickets did not cover using spaces on the town centre car park and some pensioners complained after being given parking tickets.

Now Wyre Forest District Council has decided to lift the restrictions, which were imposed to free up car parking spaces for short-stay parkers visiting shops.

From October 1 pensioners will be able to use their senior citizen season tickets and use the car park without fear of penalties.

Councillor Tracey Onslow, for housing and environmental services, said: "The senior citizen season tickets issued by the local authority have always stated quite clearly on the ticket itself that Load Street is excluded from its use.

"Anyone parking on Load Street displaying a senior citizen season ticket has always been liable to receive a Penalty Charge Notice. "However, the recent cases have highlighted the difficulties some senior citizens have faced.

"Under the recent review of the Car Parking Order it was agreed to allow the use of the senior citizen season tickets on the Load Street car park. This will take effect from October."