A big increase in spending on disabled parking bays is being considered today by councillors.

Medway's Cabinet is being asked to agree a 150 per cent rise in how much is spent on residential disabled parking bays from next April.

It follows the first review in more than 11 years.

Officers who are recommending the increased spending in line with new laws governing the provision of disabled parking facilities warn it could open the floodgates for thousands of blue badge holders to demand bays outside their homes.

There are 1,000 parking bays across Medway but and 10,700 badge holders.

Among changes being proposed, which will cost £87,000, is to drop the ban on bays where drivers have off-street parking, and to provide temporary bays for carers.

The recommendations - from a councillors' working party - also propose leaflets that will remind relatives they must tell the council when the driver dies so that the bay is returned to normal.