I can believe it. I am road tax exempt and could park for free in many places because my tax disc said 'Disabled'. Since they got rid of the disc, it's not so simple. Christchurch council, for example, which I visit on occasion requires blue badge holders to pay for parking unless a Christchurch Disabled Parking Exemption Permit is displayed. The permit costs £15 for residents and £25 for non-residents. Greedy sods. I also got a ticket in a nearby town because they'd changed the way they dealt with tax exempt cars. Fortunately the very nice lady I spoke to cancelled it.
Such a shortsighted decision for the above and for the reasons in the article. I doubt the instigator will be sacked though. They never seem to be in the public sector.