Council cracks down on blue badge misuse

A shopkeeper in Hastings has been successfully prosecuted for fraudulently using a blue badge.

Hastings Borough Council’s Parking Civil Enforcement Officers suspected that the badge was being used fraudulently in the St Andrews Square area.

It had been issued to a Mr Noble, and valid until September 2012. However, it was being used by Rodney Rix, who runs a shop in Waldergrave Street.

In a joint planned operation with Sussex Police, Rix was challenged and the badge seized.

He was subsequently prosecuted for misuse of the badge and yesterday pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates Court, where he was fined £500 and ordered to pay £1268 costs.