RESIDENTS in Southampton have criticised council chiefs over the city’s parking system for disabled people, saying they feel discriminated against.

People who hold Blue Badge permits living in the Holyrood estate say they regularly struggle to park near their homes as spaces are choked up by permit holders.

Residents say the permits cost £150 for all drivers, regardless of mobility, but even then there is no guarantee of a space close to the block of flats where they live.

The anger over the difficulties obtaining a disabled parking space come just a day after the Daily Echo revealed Southampton City Council is planning on scrapping designated parking bays for the disabled in the city.

The scheme would save the council £150,000, but would mean blue badge holders are not guaranteed a space.

Malcolm Chivers says he suffers agonising pain every time he walks after having two hip replacements in just over a year due to severe leg and back problems.

But despite his difficulties moving, when the 51-year-old rents a car he says he has to go up to 100 metres from where he can park to his flat.

Mr Chivers says the block is surrounded by parking bays that are reserved for people who own a £150-per-year parking permit.

But as he does not own his own car the council have not given him his own permit to park there, despite him having a blue badge.

Mr Chivers said: “I cannot park outside my own home even though I have a blue badge – I don’t see why I should have to pay £150.

“We need disabled parking because I feel I am being discriminated against because I am disabled.

“It defeats the whole point of them giving me a blue badge if I have to walk 100 meters from the car to the flat.”

Mr Chivers says that when he or a family member cannot park in one of the disabled bays in the estate they have to park on Queensway Road, forcing him to go 100 metres in a wheelchair.

Daily Echo: The parking sign in Holyrood estate.

The father of two says he has regular visitors to his home, with outreach workers visiting his eight-year-old son who has Aspergers while often more than one person is needed to help him out of his property and up and down the stairs. Current rules mean only one visiting person can park for free at any time.

He said that frequently overnight the road quickly fills up with resident’s cars meaning often he cannot park at all.

Residents living in the road are allowed to have one visitor who can park for free – but Mr Chivers says there are regularly times when more than one person visits his home, meaning they then have to pay.

Neighbour Alan Jones, 53, has Crohn’s disease and is a full time carer for his daughter who has muscular dystrophy.

He owns a car and as a blue badge holder has been given a free parking permit at the Northam estate where his daughter lives – but has not been given another one for Holyrood estate.

Because of this he says he is forced to either wait until a disabled bay becomes free or has to try and park on Queensway and walk to his home.

Mr Jones said: “I usually have to park round the corner and I cannot park outside my own house or I have to park behind someone and wait for them to leave.

• What do you think about the Blue Badge parking bay plans? Are you affected? Call our newsdesk on 023 8042 4522 or email newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk.

“If there is an emergency with my daughter she cannot get out of the car in bad weather so we can’t park away from the flat and walk.

“There is never any consultation about disabled parking bays – the first time I heard about scrapping them was in the news.

“They know exactly who is here and they can see what impact this is going to have.

“I feel like we are being discriminated against.”

A spokesman for Southampton City Council said: “The Holyrood Residents Parking Scheme is a ‘closed scheme’ that only allows parking by residents of the estate who obtain a permit.

“By limiting the number of permits in this way, the council is able to ensure that there are adequate spaces for permit holders to park at all times.

“There is no discount for residents who are Blue Badge holders, with everyone paying the same price. The cost of permits for 2016 will be rationalised at £100 for everyone.

“If any resident has a concern regarding the need for a Blue Badge bay, they should contact the council via Actionline or online so that they can make a request.

“All requests are then considered and, if appropriate, a bay will be provided.”