BLACKPOOL'S 'over strict' traffic wardens are pouncing on disabled drivers and fining them £30 for minor Blue Badge blunders, says an irritated councillor.

Anchorsholme councillor Steven Bate said Blackpool Borough Council's own traffic wardens have been too quick to hand out fines because of 'minor technicalities' like showing their badges the wrong way up.

He said one Anchorsholme resident had been fined while dropping something off at the town hall, despite displaying his disabled badge 'in the same way he had for many years'.

"The council have got their priorities wrong," said Cllr Bate.

"They should be cracking down on the irresponsible parking on the narrow roads of Anchorsholme, not on disabled residents who display their badges the wrong way round."

He was due to tackle urban environment portfolio holder Cllr Fred Jackson on the issue at a meeting of the full council last night (Wednesday), as The Citizen went to press.

The Blue Badge scheme gives qualifying drivers a badge and a parking disc which allow them to park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, with certain restrictions, and free of charge in some areas.

Blackpool Borough Council said Blue Badge holders have nothing to fear providing they follow the guidelines issued with their permits.

Many of the drivers who were fined had put their permits the wrong side up on the dashboard, showing the driver's photograph instead of the expiry date and wheelchair user symbol, the council said.

"When this happens, parking attendants have no idea whether the permit has expired or not, and therefore have no option but to issue a ticket," said a council spokeswoman.

Cllr Jackson added: "It's a shame this is happening so often because we are reluctant to issue tickets to Blue Badge holders. We recommend to all to read the instructions carefully and adhere to them, if they do this there won't be a problem.