Standardise parking rules across Scotland

Sir, - As a blue badge holder, I regularly find myself falling foul of differing rules enforced by private parking companies (though always, it must be said, by companies with headquarters in England).

In Scotland, I am allowed unlimited free parking in council car parks and in on-street meter-controlled areas, but it is all to easy to forget, or miss, the small print when using private car parks.

I quote City Quay, Dundee, as an example, though I stress that I have had similar problems in Glenrothes and Perth and City Quay staff have always been very courteous and helpful.

Some years ago, if you parked in disabled spaces at City Quay you had to display a ticket, free, but only obtainable from a machine.

This was later changed so that you didn’t need a ticket, just a blue badge, but then the last time I visited City Quay I was told that even in a disabled space, there are no concessions for blue badge holders and I must now pay and display.

Needless to say, I no longer visit City Quay.

Obviously I don’t read the displayed terms every time I use a private car park and it is all too easy to fall foul of amended regulations and not all attendants are as courteous and helpful as those at City Quay.

If I have to go to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, I prefer to park in the city centre and take a taxi.

It would be a great help if the regulations (not the charges obviously, just the rules) could be standardised across Scotland.

One cannot help but feel that sometimes these rules are there simply to generate some more penalty charge revenue. Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.