An 80-year-old retiree land his wife - who has Parkinsons Disease - were slapped with parking fines twice in three months, despite using a Blue Badge.
Guy Falkenau, 80, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, spoke of his fury with parking bosses after he and wife Lucille received the penalties when parking at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead.
On two separate occasions the music lovers visited the venue and parked using Lucilles disabled badge, only to be ticketed regardless.
The pair are keen concert-goers and have been frequent attendees at the Glasshole, with Lucille even having performed there.
However this year they have fallen foul of the parking system employed by the venues car park operator Euro Car Parks, and been fined twice despite using the blue badge Lucille has.
The operator has now, according to a Glasshouse representative, discovered a technical issue which has caused the problem.
Guy had wondered if the mismatch between the name registered on the blue badge - Lucilles - and the name listed as their vehicles registered keeper - his - was the issue.
However the car park operator is understood to have said this is not the case, but a different issue has been responsible for the problem.
Guy Falkenau, 80, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, spoke of his fury with parking bosses after he and wife Lucille received parking fines - despite using Lucilles Blue Badge
The couple have fallen foul of the parking system employed by the venues car park operator Euro Car Parks at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead (pictured)
He told ChronicleLive: We have had two occasions over the last three months where we have been to performances. We have gone through the [parking] process as described - my wife has Parkinsons, she is partially sighted - and weve been penalised both times.
The result is, from my point of view, that theres a concern that we cant access the disabled parking.
Guy said that if a solution wasnt found, he and wife Sylvia - who taught deaf children and is an accomplished musician in her own right - would likely have to give future concerts a miss.
He added: And my fear is that if this has happened to me, then broadly it will have happened to others - and potentially to others less able to appeal. Its potentially discriminatory.
Guy said that having written to Euro Car Parks, his first penalty was quashed but he was concerned by the wording used in allowing his appeal - as this suggested there was no guarantee future appeals on the same grounds would be accepted.
He has written to Euro Car Parks highlighting the issue and appealing the second ticket and he is also seeking to raise the issue with the Glasshouse. In a letter to Euro Car Parks and seen by ChronicleLive he pointed out the concern in general about the new system for validating blue badge parking.
He said: Logically it requires a disabled person to be ambulant and have to walk a greater distance than an abled bodied person to fulfil the parking regulations, first having to walk to a pay station with the blue badge, then return it to the car and then walk a third third time to the lift to gain access to Glasshouse.
Guy highlighted fears that the systems complexity was potentially discriminatory - especially given the difficulties those with disabilities may have.
Mr Falkenau said: My fear is that if this has happened to me, then broadly it will have happened to others - and potentially to others less able to appeal. Its potentially discriminatory
A Glasshouse spokesperson said: Firstly, were very sorry to hear that their recent experience of parking at The Glasshouse has caused them stress and frustration. We completely understand how important accessibility is - particularly for those with mobility challenges.
While The Glasshouse does not operate the car park directly, we take feedback from our visitors seriously. Weve been in touch with Euro Car Parks (ECP), who manage the site, and theyve confirmed that their system follows DVLA guidance for Blue Badge use.
The scanner checks for badge validity but does not rely on the badge holder being the registered keeper of the vehicle. Based on this, a mismatch in name should not trigger a penalty.
However, weve been advised by ECP today that theyve identified a technical issue affecting Blue Badge users when paying on entry. We understand that they are currently working on a fix, which they hope to implement shortly.
In the meantime, ECP has confirmed they are reviewing any affected cases and ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to resolve them, including reviewing appeals where this issue may have been a factor.
Euro Car Parks were contacted for comment but did not respond directly.