Elderly and disabled motorists are being hit with fines from a Liscard shopping centre car park despite being blue badge holders.

In August this year, Smart Parking took over the car park at Cherry Tree Shopping Centre.

Previously, Cherry Tree allowed blue badge holders to use the disabled car parking spaces free of charge and said badge holders would still be eligible for free parking for up to three hours after new handover.

Legal adviser, Leanne Daly, has been helping residents with discrimination claims against the company after numerous where hit with £100 fines.

Leanne told the Globe: “People were driving into the car park, seeing the sign that says they just need to display their badge and then not getting a ticket.

“But with the new system, if you don’t purchase a ticket and enter your full correct registration into their machines, the cameras, which don’t recognise blue badges, will capture your license plate and automatically send a fine to your home address.”

Leanne said fines can take up to a month to come through meaning residents are left unaware of their mistakes until much later.

She said: “People might have parked in Cherry Tree four or five times before they’ve even realised that something is wrong.

“I’ve helped people who have racked up multiple fines and are being told they owe hundreds of pounds.”

Despite the car park signs informing residents displaying their blue badge is enough, to avoid the fine, residents have to alert smart parking that they are registered blue badge holders either online or via the Cherry Tree office.

Leanne said: “A lot of people who are being hit by these fines are elderly and don’t have access to a smart phone or the internet to register that they’re a blue badge holder.

“The office for Cherry Tree is up a flight of stairs with no lift so it’s impossible for a lot of badge holders to even access.

“That’s discrimination because it’s making it less fair for a disabled person to use the carpark because they’re more likely to end up with a charge which may or may not get cancelled.”

Leanne said she has helped over 60 local people contact Cherry Tree and Smart Parking to help appeal against the fines.

She said: “There are people I’ve helped that have been slapped with £300 worth of fines and then are having to appeal and worry for months if they are going to have to pay it or not.

“Those people have been put through an ordeal that they shouldn’t have to experience in the first place.

“People are getting really worried and confused. It’s a lot for people to process.”

Leanne has been helping residents through a Facebook group where those affected can share their experiences and offer support to one another.

She said: “A lot of people are coming to me worried that because of these fines they’re going to get something on their record and they’re not tech savvy so don’t have a clue where to start with appealing it.

“There’s quite a lot of people in vulnerable positions. They see this legal letter and get scared so I’m just hoping I can level the playing field and put it in everyday language for people.”

In response to the complaints, Cherry Tree Shopping Centre posted on social media: “Cherry Tree Shopping Centre is aware that some Blue Badge Holders have been sent Parking Charge Notices in error by our tenant, Smart Parking.

“We are presently working with Smart Parking to resolve this issue permanently, but in the meantime should any Blue Badge Holder receive a Parking Charge Notice they will be able to get this cancelled by following the appeals process on the back of the letter.

“As part of the appeal process, you will be required to upload a copy of your Blue Badge to Smart Parking's website and this file should be less than 3mb or the website will not accept it.

“We understand that these notices will have caused concern to our customers and would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused. Should anyone require any further information, please email info@smartparking.com.”