A WOMAN with a disability said she feels discriminated against after being given a ticket for not paying in a Taunton car park.

Jane Hinton said she was unaware Blue Badge holders now have to pay and display to use car parks in the county town.

A council spokeswoman said the new rules were brought in back in April and have been widely publicised.

Mrs Hinton was driven into Taunton by her friend, Clare Rant, who left her car in the Wood Street Car Park while the two women attended an appointment.

"I couldn't believe it when there was a parking ticket on the car when we returned," said Mrs Hinton.

"When Clare complained she was told Blue Badge holders are now charged to park and that there's a sign to that effect by the ticket machine.

"But because I didn't know they;d changed the rules, I didn't go anywhere near the ticket machine as I assumed we didn't have to pay.

"So how am I supposed to know?

"It's discrimination against the disabled. Clare has appealed, but if that fails, I'll have to pay the fine."

A Taunton Deane Borough Council spokeswoman said Blue Badge holders have been charged to park in the town's car park since April and the changes were "widely publicised".

She added: "It is the responsibility of all users to check the tariff boards when using any pay and display car park.

"In addition to the information on these boards there are also reminder signs where you leave the car parks on foot.

"When fines have been issued we do encourage people to use the appeals process where appropriate but cannot comment on individual cases.”