NEW changes to the tax disc system could jeopardise the independence and quality of life of disabled motorists, it’s claimed.

The DVLA’s changes have been branded a “fiasco” by one disability group who fear they could deter seriously disabled people from getting out and about.

From yesterday, motorists no longer need to display their paper tax disc in their windscreen, although vehicles do still need to be taxed.

But disabled people in tax exempt vehicles, who are currently entitled to park for free in Bournemouth and Poole car parks, rely on their nil disabled tax disc to prove to traffic wardens they do not have to pay parking charges.

The change does not affect blue badge holders, who are entitled to park in disabled bays but still have to pay parking charges.

Jonathan Waddington-Jones, chief executive of DOTS Disability, said he had consulted disabled people who would be affected by this.

“They all said that the removal of free parking would have a massive impact on their independence and quality of life,” he said.

“This fiasco is entirely of DVLA’s making. Had they consulted disabled people about the potential impact of their new policy they would have foreseen the problems that they’ve presented to local authorities.

“The parking concession is vital to many disabled people who have no alternative to car travel. We’re very pleased to be working in partnership with Bournemouth Council to find a solution – including putting pressure on DVLA.”

Bournemouth and Poole councils are now trying to work out a way of identifying tax exempt vehicles without tax discs. In the meantime, both councils are urging people to keep their nil disabled tax disc on their vehicle even after it expires.

Any disability tax exempt vehicle owners who receive parking fines in error will have them cancelled if they can provide proof of the vehicle tax status.

A DVLA spokesman said it was not the purpose of the tax disc to show who was or was not exempt from parking charges.

She said the blue badge scheme, operated by local authorities, was the appropriate means of setting who was exempt from parking charges.