Blue badge battle: KentOnline launches campaign to change parking permit system丨PuYou

Blue badge battle: KentOnline launches campaign to change parking permit system丨PuYou

Today KentOnline launches a campaign tiger badge electrician to call for a change in government policy around who gets a blue badge.

It comes after many readers with cancer and other life-altering conditions shared how they have been unfairly treated by the current process.valor badge last war

                                                         

After receiving countless emails, phone calls and letters, we have joined forces with three of the county’s MPs to call on the government to seriously look at how people are given the parking permits.

We’re launching Blue Badge Battle – a campaign for a fairer system.

As previously reported, Larkfield resident Sandy Burr was diagnosed with cancer, had a toe amputated, and was found to have blood clots of her lungs that impacted how far she could walk.

Despite this, she was denied a badge.

Then last week we reported how Martin White, a 79-year-old pensioner with leukaemia, a tumour and heart problems, had his application refused, despite needing a stairlift and mobility scooter.

It was only after the Freemasons’ Charity appealed the application on his behalf that he was given a blue badge, despite his condition remaining the same between the initial application and the appeal.

These refusals, while issued by Kent County Council (KCC), are administered in line with guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) which has a strict criteria, focused on mobility, which applicants have to meet.

As such, Martin and Sandy were denied badges because the council said it was unable to dosimetry badge determine their conditions would impact them for three years - a requirement for being accepted.how to use valor badge in last war

There are two ways blue badges are issued. Type 1 is the ‘eligible without further assessment’ criteria where applicants are awarded the parking permit if their disability or benefits allow them to automatically qualify without needing a separate assessment.

However, type 2 is ‘eligible subject to further assessment’, such as those who have been assessed by an expert and found to have an “enduring and substantial” disability which causes walking difficulties or “considerable” psychological distress.

Sandy Burr believes temporary blue badge's should be available to cancer patients with mobility issues.timewarped badge vendor

The problem is, the criteria for type 2 states: “The disability experienced by the applicant must endure for at least three years.”

And it is this criteria, which is preventing cancer patients and those with life-altering conditions from obtaining a blue badge - because how can they determine their diagnosis will sustain for three years? And, who’s to say they aren’t suffering in the meantime?apcoa blue badge portal

After discovering cancer patients were being let down by the current system, we got in contact with Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant (Con), who has had her own personal battle with cancer, to see if she would support a campaign to make the system fairer.

She feels strongly the eligibility criteria should be broadened, to include those patients with compromised mobility, but issued on a shorter-term/ more frequent review basis.

In support of the campaign, she sent a letter to the transport secretary and minister for disability and social security.renew disabled badge

In it, she wrote: “I recognise we must ensure blue badges are only issued to those who truly need them.everton badge

“However, it is vital we help cancer patients and those with other life-altering conditions to access the goods and services they need whilst they are receiving treatment.”

Additionally, she has asked for a meeting to discuss the issues raised and talk about how they can be addressed.

Speaking of her support for the campaign, she said: “For me personally I have been there, I battled with cancer for around 24 months.

“It was not an easy journey, I know that cancer can be mentally and physically debilitating.

Cancer survivor Helen Grant MP is backing the campaign

“I had major surgery in the form of a mastectomy and some abdominal surgery as well and it was very difficult to move around and walk.

“Lots of people, in addition to major surgery, also have radiotherapy and chemotherapy which is completely draining.

“I think anything we can do to help people to be mobilised and to access goods and services while they are going through these difficulties, is important.

“And it’s not a lot we are asking for.”

Making this a cross-party campaign, Helen has been joined by Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne (Lab) and Tunbridge Wells’ MP Mike Martin (Lib Dem).

Tristan Osborne MP is backing the campaign

Mr Osborne says the current blue badge schemes in Kent and Medway need to be more flexible given there are people with temporary mobility issues, where they might have relapsing or changing conditions.

He said: “The government has provided examples of concessions that can be considered on a local basis including parking for the elderly, concessions for carers, and in the case of some area concessions around for temporary mobility but it appears these flexibilities are not consistent between local authorities, and in many cases are dismissed entirely because they are in addition, and not part of, blue badge requirements.”

Now, he is urging councils to implement discretion in cases where it is “demonstrably appropriate”.

“I will be working with colleagues in parliament to ensure flexibilities are not ad-hoc but consistent across all councils, whether this be part of the blue badge registration scheme or beyond it,” he added.

Mr Martin said: “For people undergoing cancer treatment and other illnesses that cause short-term disabilities and immobility, it can be the single most painful and traumatic time they ever endure in their lives.

Mike Martin MP is supporting the campaign

“The fact that those same people cannot apply for a temporary blue badge is completely undignified.

“The legislative framework governing blue badges must be improved to encompass those who have been stripped of their independence by a short-term disability, so that they can access the services and goods they need.”

After learning her story had prompted a campaign to change the blue badge system, Ms Burr told how she had welled-up with tears.

She said: “It is fantastic news and it’s good that we seem to be getting the right kind of people backing it as well.

“It means it is not a story that has been read and ignored. I am over the moon.

KentOnline has launched a campaign to call for a change in government policy around who gets a blue badge

“Even if it does not benefit me, it might benefit those in the future.”

Meanwhile Mr White said: “I’m really pleased there is a campaign going on because it’s stupid. You get a disability and then suddenly it’s as though you don’t count anymore.

“It said the blue badge application would take 17 weeks but mine took over five months altogether including the standing in of the charity to help me forward.

“They’ve [the council] sort of got you in the pending tray instead of doing anything about it. A short phone call would be far better than just looking at paperwork.”

If you have been affected by this issue and want to support our Blue Badge Battle - please email news@thekmgroup.co.uk

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