A PENSIONER is fuming after being fined for parking in a disabled bay - despite displaying his blue badge.

Cancer-sufferer Bill Ingram, from upper Port Glasgow, was hit with a £60 penalty for a 14-minute stay in a space at Wallace Place outside the Greenock Municipal Buildings.

The 83-year-old was parked in the bay and had his blue badge clearing on view in front of the windscreen but the pensioner was fined for not displaying a council parking disc as well.

Mr Ingram feels he has been harshly penalised but local authority officials insist the rules are clearly signposted.

He said: "£60 for a bit of cardboard is a bit excessive, and for a pensioner it's a lot of money.

"I was parked in a proper disabled bay and had displayed my blue badge, I thought that was enough.

"I'd like to let others know this is happening and that they could be penalised.

"I don't know who thought this all up but it seems complete madness."

Ironically, the Tele has learned that Mr Ingram could have parked in a normal bay or even on double-yellow lines without punishment.

It is understood that there is an 'anomaly' meaning there is no rule prohibiting a blue badge holder from stopping in any of these areas, provided they are not causing an obstruction.

Mr Ingram has the permit because of mobility problems caused by his cancer, which spread to his bones after starting out in his prostate.

He intends to appeal the decision and has also written a letter of complaint about the matter.

The OAP said: "I actually thought the council had done away with the discs.

"I don't know what bright person came up with the idea in the first place."

The ticket was issued on Monday at 2.39pm, just 14 minutes after Mr Ingram's car was clocked by a council parking attendant.

The penalty will be reduced to £30 if he pays within 14 days.

A disc zone is in operation in Greenock town centre meaning motorists must display a cardboard wheel stating when they arrived so that inspectors can make sure they are within designated time limits.

A council spokesman said: "Where parking restrictions apply to a street or car park, the council must put up a sign to warn drivers. "The sign must detail what restrictions are in force. It is up to drivers to make sure they check the sign.

"In this case the sign on display clearly says that the disabled bay is in a disc zone and that parking is limited to three hours.

"The council's website also says 'vehicles displaying a valid blue badge whilst parked within an on-street limited waiting parking space are exempt from the time restrictions which apply unless the associated sign indicates otherwise'.

"Parking attendants normally give a 10-minute grace period to allow drivers to get a parking disc.

"Any driver who feels that they have been wrongly issued with a penalty can notice can appeal against it."