Keith Brown MSP

The Scottish Parliament has backed a Member’s Bill to make disabled parking bays legally enforceable, with local MSP Keith Brown joining his Holyrood colleagues in unanimous support on Wednesday (26th November).

The bill will mean statutory protection for the first time. At present campaigners estimate that one in five uses of parking spaces designated for disabled people are by drivers who are not eligible.

The Scottish Government has given over parliamentary time usually allotted to its own business to allow the backbench bill to go forward. The Holyrood administration also commissioned research to support the bill, investigating why drivers who are not disabled nonetheless use the designated parking spaces.

There are estimated to be around 14,000 on-street disabled parking places across Scotland, with many more in off-street car parks.

Keith Brown MSP said:

“I know from my mailbag that many of my constituents want to see this bill passed. It will give new and deserved protection to people who might for example have limited mobility and really do need designated spaces.

“This bill – supported by the government but steered by an opposition MSP – is also a great sign of how Scotland’s parliamentarians can work together where we agree. I look forward to see it passing the final stage and coming into law.”