Social workers and doctors should be allowed to park in controlled parking zones while on duty, according to Harrow councillors calling for a scheme similar to the orange badges issued to the disabled.

Councillor Anne Diamond, the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for health and social services, hopes that a motion addressing the issue will be debated at the full council meeting tonight (Thursday).

She said it was in response to increasing complaints from people who work in the community that they were being fined for parking in the zones while visiting patients or clients.

"It's disgusting that people should be ticketed while doing their jobs," she said. "It needs to be looked at very seriously."

Councillor Diamond said the council should recognise the difficulties that parking restrictions imposed on the work of health and social carers and proposed that social services issue ID cards which could be left inside car windscreens while workers were on duty.

Those found abusing the scheme would have their cards withdrawn, she added.

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