Extra time for disabled is Cabinet's limp response!

A Boston man who protested that plans to charge disabled blue badge holders for parking were discriminatory, has received an insouciant reaction from Boston Borough Council Leader Peter Bedford.
Martin Robbins wrote to Councillor Bedford on 15th February, and a week later received a reply – forwarded with a covering note from the borough’s “Communications” manager – rather than the man himself. … with the promise that  “a hard copy will follow in the post.”
The reply seems unlikely to persuade Mr Robbins, nor many others  for that matter.
“I am pleased to be able to tell you that the needs of blue badge holders have been fully considered and reflected in a recommendation from Cabinet to full council that an extra, free half-hour car parking is granted to blue badge holders using the borough council’s car parks,” says the "Leader."
“Subject to approval by full council on March 1st, this will allow those with mobility problems an additional free half hour, taking into consideration the additional time it takes for them to get from their vehicles and into town and back to their vehicles.
“I have to stress that blue badge holders will still have to purchase a car parking ticket, but for which ever (sic) period they purchase a ticket they will receive an extra free half hour.
“There is certainly no intention to discriminate against anyone, be they disabled, low paid, unemployed.
“I believe this recommendation shows that, and if there are real cases of hardship we will listen to them.”
Mr Robbins also raised the decision by the Tories to increase councillors’ allowances by 80% over four years, which Councillor Bedford justified by saying that Boston was far behind any other authority in Lincolnshire, and would be even after the agreed increase.
That's all right then.
And on a further complaint about the way the borough’s Chief Executive is paid, Councillor Bedford repeated his argument that “this arrangement is common at other local authorities.”
He offered no comment on Mr Robbins’s warning that his henchpeoples'  plan to charge the disabled may increase the number of blue badge holders who  park on double yellow lines and “cause more traffic chaos than normal in town, even with the bus service running through Strait Bargate.”
It’s not the first time that we have noted Councillor Bedford’s “hands off” approach to e-mails – more than once  we have been on the receiving end at Boston Eye -  when the "leader" employed a dogsbody as an intermediary ... and continued to do so even when replied to directly.
It can only be his way of expressing disapproval of people with whom he would rather not deal.
Certainly, disapproval  is what it won from Mr Robbins, who included the words “lazy” and “inept” in his reaction to us.
It’s hard to believe that Councillor Bedford can really imagine that a 30-minute parking extension is proof of a “listening” cabinet.
Until now, parking up to three hours has been free for Blue Badge holders.
Soon, it will be charged for – but with a “free” bonus half hour.
As it has not previously been charged for, it is in effect a new tariff – simply the time for which the badge holder pays, with 30 minutes added for (the steroptypically  disabled to limp back to their cars.
There’s nothing “free” about it.
The introduction of “hobbling time” is incredibly patronising - and not concessionary -  and we hope that people are quick to draw the council’s attention to the fact.

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