Disabled parking badge holders across Bradford are set to face a 400 per cent increase in charges next year.

From January 1, Bradford Council are likely to impose a £10 charge for a Blue Badge permit as a result of Government reforms of the entire system.

Currently 17,000 people across the district have a blue badge, which lasts three years and costs them £2.

But council leader Ian Greenwood says he does not believe the proposed new charge, which could be ratified at an executive meeting this month, is unfair and will reflect an improved service.

“The logic of it is the Government is set on bringing in a national scheme and effectively the charges for us go up,” he said.

“I know £2 to £10 seems a lot, but in terms of people’s real income it’s not a lot and doesn’t seem reasonable not to pass on the expense it costs to run the scheme. We do believe the scheme will be better.”

Coun Greenwood said the new system will include online applications, eligibility checkers and should all help clamp down on fraudulent use of the badges.

The new scheme was announced by the Government in February as part of the biggest reforms of the system for 40 years and will impact on badge fraud, which costs the country an estimated £46m a year.

But David Wilson, a blue badge holder from Bradford who uses the city centre car park off William Street, near Bradford Central Library, said: “The council is a rip-off merchant. It isn’t enough that the Government are cutting benefits, but now they are charging for blue badges. Things are hard enough for the disabled, especially with other changes, it’s disgusting.

  • For the full story, see Thursday's Telegraph & Argus