A COLEFORD woman is one of four people caught and fined for misusing blue badges across Gloucestershire.

Brenda Kavanagh park­ed in a disabled bay outside Wyedean Wholefoods in Cinderford where she displayed her brother’s blue badge and went to a dentist appointment.

Her brother was not present at the time and she was fined £390 by magistrates.

The blue badge scheme allows people with severe walking disabilities, those who are registered blind, or who have severe disabilities to both arms, to park in restricted areas. The badge entitles holders to park for free at on-street parking meters and on some double yellow lines.

Blue badges are issued by Gloucestershire County Council which regularly checks they are being used legally.

Blue badges are assigned to a person and not a vehicle, so a badge can be used in any vehicle the holder is travelling in, including taxis and hire cars.

The rules are clear, and are written on the badge, that it can only be used by the named badge holder, or when dropping off or collecting them.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: “Our enforcement officers are on the look out for blue badge offenders. If caught, you could potentially end up with a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000. It’s just not worth the risk.”

Since November 2014, 20 cases have been brought before magistrates, with more cases due to go to court next year.