A HAMPSHIRE dad has branded parking chiefs as “discriminatory towards disabled people” after they slapped him with a parking fine, despite his daughter’s blue badge being displayed.

Now David Reading is calling on Test Valley Borough Council to take action and “learn from their mistakes” following the way officers dealt with his appeal.

Mr Reading says officers demanded the blue badge holder – his 11-year-old daughter, who has Down’s syndrome – write a letter confirming she was also using the car at the time of the ticket.

Mr Reading’s daughter, who has not been named, cannot write due to her disability.

This, David says, shows the “complete lack of thought” from the council in regards to its treatment towards disabled residents and their carers, as it accuses them of using a blue badge unlawfully.

Traffic officers slapped the Romsey father with the fine after he parked his car in Newton Lane car park. With a blue badge displayed, drivers are allowed a maximum of three hours to park. He returned with his daughter after two and a half hours.

“The first thing I did was appeal the fine. and I was told it would take seven weeks for a response as the department was busy – I would not be charged during that time.But when I received the letter back saying the council was in the right, I couldn’t believe it.

“They reckon they had seen the blue badge but the expiration date was covered - at first they said it was not there at all!

“However, they did say that if my daughter wrote a letter back confirming she was using the car at the same time as me, they would re-examine my claim."

He added: “The assumption that every disabled person can write is ridiculous and discriminatory.”

Mr Reading then tried to help his daughter write to the council, as requested, but it was illegible.

Now Cllr Nick Adams-King, deputy leader of the borough council and cabinet member for planning and transport, has apologised for the way the council dealt with his claim.

“I am truly sorry that Mr Reading has been upset by his dealings with the council in relation to this parking ticket,” he said.The ticket was issued correctly as the expiry date on the disabled badge was obscured, but once we were made aware of the extenuating circumstances we rescinded the charge.”

He added: “However, Mr Reading has highlighted some important points and we shall be reviewing both the content of our communications and the way in which we do this in future in the light of this particular case.”