DISABLED motorists have until the end of today to have their say on changes which would see the end of their free parking concessions in Poole.

Disabled Tax Exempt Vehicle (DTEV) holders are being consulted on three options; a one year permit for £25, a three year permit for £60, or paying for a parking ticket each time they park.

Previously they have been able to park in council car parks for free.

The changes have come about as a result of the withdrawal of the paper tax discs by the DVLA in 2014. That led to some tax exempt disabled drivers being issued with parking tickets by wardens no longer able to tell they were eligible to park for free.

To overcome the issue Borough of Poole began compiling a local database - but this provision and associated enforcement action are likely to cost the council around £60,000 this financial year.

Councillor Drew Mellor, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, Borough of Poole, said: "For many years we have been able to offer free parking in all our pay and display car parks for vehicles which are Disability Tax Exempt. Due to changes by the DVLA, information on such vehicles is no longer freely available. In addition it is no longer possible for us to financially support all the services and concessions that we would like. Therefore, the council has looked at options to make this concession cost neutral, and would only be making a charge to cover our costs for administering this service."

Jonathan Waddington-Jones, chief executive of DOTS disability, said it was a worry for many members: "We accept that the problem has been created by the DVLA but we don't think the appropriate solution is to pass the cost on to disabled people, many of whom are not in a position to afford it. If there was the political will then other options could and should be considered."

Disabled motorist Kelvin Trevett told the Echo with councils all coming up with their own solutions, he will have to register with each one individually: "It's a total mess. The chief executives need to get their heads together to sort this out."

People can respond to the consultation online at poole.gov.uk/DTEVC by 29 January. The results will be presented to the Transport Advisory Group on March 10 with a view to implementing any changes from May 2.