Welcome to Milton Keynes the city of selfish parkers

But the maximum they had to pay was £70 – a sum that is far too low, according to city Alderman Paul Bartlett.

He wants able-bodied people who park in blue badge bays to be fined at least £400, with no right of appeal for the culprit.

“I have heard every excuse going, but there is simply never an excuse or reason for a non-disabled person to park in a designated space meant for those officially deemed to need a blue badge,” he said.

“Abusing a blue badge space is equivalent to abusing a disabled person. It could be classed as a selfish hate crime,” he added.

The most regular locations for abuse are outside cash machines, banks, post offices, and shops.

MK Theatre is a hotspot for disabled bay misuse as are, ironically, the bays outside council’s civic offices.

Paul, who was a Tory councillor for many years, wrote to MK Council asking for the misuse statistics and suggesting the fine be raised as a deterrent.

The council explained the levels of fines are set by central government and the maximum possible charge is £70.

“The income is ring-fenced and must be re-invested in transport,” said a spokesman.

He added: “We undertake very thorough blue badge enforcement and last year issued 3,736 fines for this.”

The sum represents more than 10 per cent of total penalties issued for all parking contraventions.