SWINDON is facing a shortage of parking spaces for blue badge holders, according to a new study.

The news comes as more people with hidden disabilities become eligible to apply for permits.

New data showed that there are 44 blue badge holders battling for each dedicated council-owned parking space on average in the south west.

This is higher than the national average of 30 badge holders per space.

This shortage is not helped by perfectly-able drivers wrongly parking in blue badge spaces because they are closer to entrances or bigger than other spaces.

Last year saw almost 15,000 parking charge notices issued to drivers in the region for abusing the spaces in this way.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson is the government’s minister for disabled people. He said: “This is a pivotal moment for thousands of people with hidden disabilities across the country, many of whom face unacceptable discrimination or even abuse when using disabled parking spaces.

“The changes we’re making will be life-changing for these disabled people, allowing them to go about their daily lives without experiencing unnecessary stress or worry.

“In addition, rightly, more needs to be done to police and provide sufficient disabled parking spaces.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman told the Adver: “We always ensure that the numbers of spaces available for blue badge holders in each of our car parks fits within government guidelines of four-to-six per cent. This is the case for all our current car parks and will remain so for any future ones. If the guidelines change, we will increase spaces if necessary.

“Our parking officers regularly encourage people who don’t have blue badges not to park in spaces reserved for those who do and people who require a blue badge can apply for one via our website.”

Confused.com carried out this research. They found that most able-bodied motorists parking in blue badge bays gave excuses like ‘I was only going to be quick’, ‘There were plenty of other blue badge spaces available’, or ‘I couldn’t find another space’.

The website’s motoring editor Amanda Stretton said: “It’s no wonder some of these blue badge holders have had to park elsewhere, and the number of people competing for spaces is only going to grow.

“Drivers who misuse the spaces should be more respectful and leave them free for those who need them.”