Are you a blue badge holder in Cornwall who does not pay road tax? Well the rules are about to change.

The tax disc system is being abolished by the government, and if the tax disc is due to run out before October 1 you need to call Cornwall Council "urgently" to give them your vehicle registration details.

This is so disabled driver can keep etheir entitlement to free parking in Cornwall Council run car parks.

If your tax disc is due to run out later in the year or early in 2015, you should contact the council two weeks before it expires to give them the vehicle details.

Only blue badge holders who pay no road tax are entitled to free parking in Cornwall Council run car parks. All others must pay to park, but are entitled to one hour’s additional parking free.

Earlier this year the Government announced changes to the vehicle taxation system which means there will no longer be a legal requirement for any vehicle to display a tax disc.

Although the new legislation comes into force on October 1, the council says that the Government has only recently advised that local authorities must make their own arrangements.

A spokesman for the authority said it is currently considering its new policy and, after consultation, will introduce the policy in April 2015. In the meantime the arrangements outlined above will apply.

Blue Badge nil tax disc holders should contact the Council’s Parking Service to give details of their vehicle’s make and model and their registration number. This can be done either by e mailing parkingservices@cornwall.gov.uk or by post to Parking Services, PO Box 664, TR1 9DH.

The council’s parking enforcement officers will then be able to recognise eligible vehicles using their hand held computers.

Anyone who is entitled to free parking and finds themselves being issued with a penalty charge notice should follow the instructions on the reverse of the Penalty Charge Notice providing the PCN number and explaining that they do not pay road tax.

The parking service will then verify this and cancel any undeserved charges.

“The council has had to act quickly to get an interim scheme in place“ said Bert Biscoe, the council’s cabinet member for transport and waste.

“Many members have been contacted by concerned residents about this issue and I am glad to be able to announce details of the interim scheme today.”

“Please don’t forget to continue to display your nil tax disc while it is valid or to contact the parking service a fortnight before it is due to run out to give us your vehicle details so they can be registered. I am, however, anxious to make sure that our staff are not inundated, hence the phased approach.“