District councillors John Ireland and Ann Davis (above) were caught parking in disabled bays at Monkton Park council offices in ChippenhamCHIPPENHAM NEWS EXCLUSIVE: TWO councillors have been caught on camera breaking rules set by their own authority after parking their cars in clearly marked disabled bays.

The Chippenham News is naming and shaming North Wiltshire District Councillors Ann Davis and John Ireland for illegally parking in two Monkton Park office disabled spaces.

It comes just weeks after we exposed a police car parked in a disabled space in the town centre.

The councillors' actions have angered campaign groups for the disabled who have questioned their morality and ethics.

Both councillors have excused their actions, saying they needed to get to a meeting on time and claimed the bays are no longer reserved for disabled drivers after 6pm.

But North Wiltshire District Council officers have denied the claims, saying it is responsible for the disabled parking bays and the rules do not change in the evenings.

District councillor Ann Davis said: "During the evening there is not sufficient parking for people to attend meetings.

"When I arrived I would have parked elsewhere but I had two bags and a computer and I am only seven stone six, what could I do? It was very important that I got to my meeting. I didn't have time to do a lot of parking.

"Either I get to the meeting in time or I don't. If people arrived and needed to use the disabled bays I'm sure all the councillors would have removed their cars.

"If you have had a long day at work and need to take a lot of stuff in and if they are not being used I do it, but not as a general rule. I would not park in any other disabled bays in Chippenham."

A Chippenham News photographer caught both councillors on September 29 when a Development and Control Committee meeting was held at the Monkton Park offices.

Rule breaker Cllr John Ireland, a retired police officer, said he is 47 per cent disabled with arthritis in lower limbs.

He said: "But I do not have a disabled ticket because I never ever bothered to apply for one and I want to point out it was after 6.30pm at night and the parking restrictions in public highways on disabled bays do not apply.

"Councillors have to go to council meetings. If they can't park there because the public have taken all the spaces we have to park in the leisure centre or at the shopping centre and claim back the expenses. Surely it is preferable to not have to do that when you are taking parking away from people and taking money away from the tax payer?

"At the end of the day, after 6pm you can park anywhere you like apart from double yellow lines."

The Disabled Drivers' Association runs a Baywatch campaign to stop drivers parking in restricted bays in car parks.

Executive director Douglas Campbell said: "Their attitude is very similar to the public's attitude that bays are there to be abused when it suits them.

"Their attitude is that wheelchairs are like Cinderella's coach and they become pumpkins after teatime. It's an appalling example of people who should be setting an example doing something unacceptable.

"If that is their attitude to morality and ethics one questions their ability to act as councillors."

A North Wiltshire District Council spokesman said: "We have four spaces outside the council offices which are provided for people with disabilities but we don't police them outside of office hours. We hope people will respect them.

"Even after 6pm the rules don't change, they are no different. We would expect anybody parked in a disabled spot to display a ticket."