January 10, 2018 11.19 am This story is over 74 months old

Grimsby woman fined after misusing blue badge

She was fined.
Bentley Street in Cleethorpes. Photo: Google Street View

A Grimsby woman has received a hefty fine for misusing a blue badge after parking on double yellow lines in Cleethorpes.

Toni-Lea Woodhead, 28, and of Oxford Street, pleaded guilty by post to wrongfully displaying a disabled person’s blue badge.

She was fined £200, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £218.66.

North East Lincolnshire Council acted on intelligence that vehicles displaying blue badges were parking inappropriately on double yellow lines on Bentley Street.

It was alleged that the motorists parking there were not disabled and that the blue badges being displayed did not belong to them.

A council investigation officer observed Woodhead pull up on Bentley Street on April 6 last year, getting out of the vehicle alone.

She claimed she had legitimately driven the blue badge holder to a café.

However, an investigation found that the badge holder was at home at the time.

In pleading guilty, Woodhead said she had been late for work and as the badge had been in the car, she had decided to use it.

Councillor David Bolton, portfolio holder for safer communities and public protection at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Misuse of the blue badge scheme undermines the benefits of the scheme, impacts upon local traffic management and creates hostility amongst other badge holders and members of the public.

“It can result in a genuinely disabled person being unable to park close to where they want to be.

“Therefore, North East Lincolnshire and ENGIE will take action where evidence of such misuse is identified.”