Councillors who voted in favour of parking charges for disabled motorists enjoy free parking in council-run car parks themselves, it has emerged.

Epsom and Ewell Borough councillors are also entitled to a series of perks, including free meals at official events, which can cost up to £25, a monthly allowance to cover expenses and laptops and PCs for work use.

The Ashley Centre car park is the only council-run one in Epsom and Ewell where councillors cannot park for free.

The revelation came after the Residents’ Association-ruled council voted in favour of scrapping free parking for blue badge holders last Tuesday (February 16), in a series of swingeing budget cuts, despite opposition from disabled residents and groups, councillors and the MP for Epsom and Ewell, Chris Grayling.

Conservative councillor Sean Sullivan said: “It is typical of the out of touch RAs that they will abolish free parking for the disabled, but give their councillors free parking at taxpayers’ expense. This is on top of giving themselves a 14 per cent increase in their allowances after the last election.”

Disabled resident Sharon Perks, from Epsom, said: “They should not be getting away with it. The reason we get free parking is because a lot of the time, we cannot go back to work after becoming disabled. We need this little help – they don’t. It makes me very cross even to think about it.”

A spokeswoman for Epsom and Ewell Council said: “Councillors are issued with a parking permit which allows them to park in council car parks, except the Ashley Shopping Centre, free of charge when on Council business only, and not for personal use.

“The decision on where people choose to shop often takes into account convenience as well as the quality and type of shops available. Parking costs actually make up a small proportion of the cost of a shopping trip.

“To assist blue badge shoppers, we have allocated £88,000 within the capital programme to improve parking facilities for blue badge holders (for example by providing additional spaces) and agreed an extra hour of parking, free of charge.”

Lib Dem councillor Jonathan Lees added: “There is good reason for councillors to use the Town Hall car park free of charge, since many of us work for a living and do council work to fit in with our jobs, nipping in a moment’s notice.

“However, there’s no reason I can think of for councillors to be able to use any other car parks free of charge, though.”