THURROCK Council has issued more than 5,000 fines to drivers misusing disabled parking bays over the past six years, generating nearly £300,000 in penalties.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that between January 2019 and September 2025, the council issued 5,282 penalty charge notices to motorists parking in designated disabled bays without a valid Blue Badge. The fines collected total £294,835.

The figures show a sharp rise in enforcement, with 1,180 fines issued last year alone, totalling £64,015—up from 1,103 in 2023 and far higher than the 358 fines recorded in 2019.

Cllr Victoria Holloway, cabinet member for place and the environment, said the crackdown reflects the council's commitment to protecting spaces for those who need them most.

She said: "Disabled bays are there to help people with mobility difficulties travel and park safely in the borough. They are clearly marked and the rules around their use are well known and understood, so there can be no excuse for misusing them.

"When people without Blue Badges improperly use these parking bays, they prevent those who genuinely need them from doing so. That's why we fine those who park illegally. The fact that we have issued so many fines in recent years shows just how widespread this problem is."

Cllr Holloway warned drivers that misusing disabled bays could prove costly: "My message is simple: not only are you inconveniencing local people who really need the space, you are also risking being £70 out of pocket."

Misuse of a Blue Badge can result in a court appearance resulting in fines of up to £1,000.

The warning comes after Southend Council successfully prosecuted a man for Blue Badge fraud last month.

On October 23, Innocent Kadowonda, 40, of Gordon Road, Southend, pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates' Court to unlawful use of a disabled person's parking badge and theft. The badge had been issued to a local care organisation and was not intended for personal use. He was fined £153, ordered to pay a £61 victim surcharge, and £500 in council costs.