DISABLED people can access online maps showing Blue Badge parking spaces throughout Liverpool, thanks to a website launched yesterday.
The new service enables people to search for parking spaces by postcode or area. They also find parking bays that fall on red routes in London and accessible petrol stations, and any time restrictions on the parking are detailed.
It comes after the Daily Post revealed four out of five of Liverpool's Blue Badge drivers were lying about their disability. Disability campaigners in the region last night welcomed the new site.
"I think local people using the spaces know where they are, but this will help visitors to the city and areas where there are roadworks," Peter Bates, research officer for Merseyside Disability Federation, said.
"It is obviously one of the things we are anxious to promote with 2008 coming up - disabled visitors are a growing market."
The website is the Government's latest update to the Blue Badge system and comes weeks after the Department for Transport announced new measures to tackle abuse of the badges.
In June, the Daily Post forced councillors and police to act by detailing the scale of abuses in Liverpool city centre. We reported how the problem was costing the city almost 1m a year, with 1,000 badges being confiscated and 17 people being caught using Blue Badges after the genuine holder had died.
A Blue Badge entitles disabled people with severe walking difficulties the free use of parking meters and pay and display bays.
Government ministers last night backed the new scheme
Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, said: "Disabled people need to be supported to live life independently in the community.
"For many disabled people who do drive or are a passenger, knowing where they will be able to park will enable them to take part in day-to-day activities that non-disabled people take for granted."
"We want everyone who is entitled to use a Blue Badge to benefit from a user-friendly and properly enforced system," said Transport Minister Gillian Merron. "Together with our recent steps to stamp out fraud, this innovative service will help badge holders, whether drivers or passengers, get more out of the scheme."
THE Blue Badge map can be viewed at http://www.direct.gov.uk/bluebadgemap
