A DISABLED Marlborough woman has been forced to pay an £80 parking fine because of changes to the parking policy at Savernake Hospital, which meant her blue disabled badge was not valid because she did not also register her car's details.

Dominique Came, of Barrow Close, who often needs to use a wheelchair since a riding accident several years ago, was issued with the fine after visiting Savernake Hospital on August 31 for a routine podiatry appointment.

Mrs Came, and her husband Fil, received notice of the fine through the post on October 3, charging £80, or £40 if paid within a short space of time.

They tried to appeal against the penalty, pointing out Mrs Came is a disabled blue badge holder and that the badge was displayed on her car, but have been told that because she did not also register her vehicle, the fine stands.

Now Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has promised to improve the signs warning disabled drivers that the badge alone is not enough to guarantee them free parking and remind them they need to register at the hospital reception or in the car park to avoid fines.

The pay and display car park machines now ask disabled visitors and patients to register at the parking machines, although there are no signs explaining this.

Anyone who cannot reach the machine can register their details at the hospital reception – but this is also not explained on the car park signs.

Mr Came said: “There was nothing to say that a new system for parking had been introduced and that blue badge owners had to register their car at the pay machine. Even if there was a sign, the machine key pad is inaccessible to my wife without help from an able-bodied person.”

A spokesman from the GWH NHS Foundation Trust said: "People are asked to go to the reception and register if they have a blue badge. There will be more signs put up to make this obvious. If people were accustomed to just displaying their blue badges then it could be easy for them to not know of the changes.

"We’re sorry to hear of the problems our patients and visitors have experienced with car parking at Savernake.

“We offer free parking to blue badge holders in the pay and display car park at Savernake Hospital. Blue badge holders should simply register their details with reception on arrival. We’re improving signage to make this clearer to patients and visitors. Anyone who has any issues should contact Savernake reception on (01672) 517200.”

“Dominique parked there about a month before and didn’t receive anything of the sort so the company must have taken over at the end of July or start of August. It just seems a bit suspect to me. We tried to contact the company but you can’t get through to someone and can only contact them via letter," added Mr Came.

“It is a cop-out really, instead of pointing us in the right direction it just told us to refer to the booklet or the Government website. I know a few people have been calling the hospital having been through the same problem and the manager has been very helpful. Without the signs how are people supposed to know the badges don’t apply?”

The letter to the couple reads: “We would refer you to the handbook that was sent to you with your blue badge. You will note therein that the display of your blue badge does not entitle you to any parking privileges on private property, such as where this ticket was issued. For further information on The Blue Badge Scheme, you can visit www.dft.gov.uk/topics/access/blue-badge.”

The Gazette attempted to contact parking company Civil Enforcement Ltd but did not receive a response before going to press.