A FURIOUS family is calling for more understanding for carers after two disabled family members were handed three parking tickets, despite displaying their blue badges. The Green family, who own Palmerbar Properties in Golders Green, say th

Rhiannon Evans

A FURIOUS family is calling for more understanding for carers after two disabled family members were handed three parking tickets, despite displaying their blue badges.

The Green family, who own Palmerbar Properties in Golders Green, say they have been unfairly treated after their drivers were handed three tickets in just over a month in Camden and Westminster.

In one of the cases, after being contacted by the Ham&High, Camden Council withdrew the fine given because their blue badge photo was accidentally upside down.

Representing the family, Rachel Waldman said: "These people have got enough problems being disabled without their carers and drivers worrying themselves sick that they have to hurry all the time - they are doing the best the can. There has got to be a little bit of leniency when wardens see a disabled badge."

The ticket was given in Heath Street as 76-year-old Pamela Green was being driven by her daughter.

Mrs Green received brain damage and broke her pelvis when she was knocked over while walking her dog near her home in Spaniards Road in March 2006.

In a letter to the council, her son David wrote: "I think you would agree that the distress my mother has suffered over the past three years is quite horrendous and now, added to that, we have the distress of Saturday afternoon finding a parking ticket."

However, the council only agreed to cancel the ticket on Tuesday after being contacted by the Ham&High.

Just the day before, a driver for the family, Gary Waldman, was given a ticket in a separate car driving Pamela's son Paul, who suffers from cerebral palsy, to the Wellington hospital in St John's Wood, where he was visiting his brother, David.

He parked on a yellow line outside the hospital using the blue badge.

However, when he returned, there was a ticket on the vehicle and a nearby parking warden said that without a Westminster Council white badge - only handed to the borough's residents - disabled badge holders only had five minutes to park.

Mr Waldman said: "I think it's disgusting - there has got to be some sort of restrictions, but you can't get someone out of a wheelchair and into a hospital within five minutes - it's very difficult."

The first ticket, which was issued on December 1, came after a CCTV camera caught Gary Waldman parked in a space that Camden Council said was subject to a "loading ban" while he was taking Paul, 48, to have his hair cut.

Mr Waldman said that the restriction wasn't clear. But after an appeal was rejected, the

family paid the fine to avoid the amount increasing.

Regarding the Heath Street ticket, a Camden Council spokeswoman claimed that wardens doled out tickets to people who displayed their badges incorrectly in a bid to combat possible blue badge fraud. But as it was a first time occurrence - the council would rescind the ticket.

However, the council refused to refund the Hampstead High Street penalty. She said: "Blue badge holders are not entitled to park in areas where there are loading bans as doing so can disrupt the flow of traffic."

A Westminster council spokesman said there were designated bays in the borough for blue badge holders as well as the relaxation of rules for white badge holders.