Cost and new tests for Blue badge

[noknee]

I agree something needs doing and fast, but the charge is strange . However, it puts a few more wardens on the street to check for frauds, then I would happily pay double that again.

A lot of the problem is with Private Car Parks. Ie. Supermarkets. Their blue badge areas are not covered under law , and the fraudsters know that. Also the supermarkets refuse to engage anyone parking without a blue badge. Other private Carparks will fine for non compliance, and this is the way ahead for the supermarkets. Its no use saying you are providing 20 disabled parking bays and then not doing anything about it when Lazy Joe decides to use it for his convenience.

[noknee]

In reply to some of the comments about disability badges and who they are rewarded too. Being registered disabled should only be part of it. When I was first awarded mine I really struggled to walk distances, and it was a heaven sent gift for me. Later in life I am now wheelchair bound , so some could argue I still need to park close. But now my needs are for more space , not closer parking, because the distance is no longer an issue. My farther in law was not registered, and as he struggled with his fight against Cancer, he got more benefit from my badge than I did when I took him to the supermarket.

My point is, its not always clear cut. They should be facility for a short issue version. Ie 3 months, as well as the normal issue for the likes of myself who are not going to be out of this chair in the near future. Also why not put some at the far end of the car park instead of near the doors. I for one, don't mind wheeling the extra distance and it would stop people using the space for convenience. If I can use a safe row end parking spot , I often do, this way someone with walking difficulties can have the blue badge spot. An Altruistic approach by everyone would go a long way. Oh and shoot the fraudsters of course

[andypandy]

This remark is out of order.

Being disabled does not necessarily mean being completely immobile. Many people who are disabled do not look in the least as if they are, myself being one. Walking gives me a lot of pain but not to do so would be worse in the long term, but I definitely require a blue badge as some days are worse than others. I do use a walking stick sometimes and always carry it with me but often it is folded as I always need it when standing still (say at checkouts). If I did not have the blue badge then undoubtedly I would often be unable to go out as I cannot walk too far but I can walk around a supermarket for an hour with my stick. Unfortunately some disabled people think they are a special case and are condescending to others. Not only am I registered disabled due to a curvature of the spine, arthritis in the spine, hands and shoulders, but I am a part-time support worker working with vulnerable adults who have learning disabilities. Would it really help me if I sat on my backside 24/7 and expected everyone to run around me? And what about the cost to the local authority and government because I would not be partially supporting myself?

There are varying degrees of disability, if I did not have the badge then in the forseeable future I would probably be completely unable to walk unaided. Thank goodness not everyone is so ignorant!! A little more thought for others is required here I think, disabilities come in many forms!

I am confused Macca, what remark is out of order ?

[andypandy]

In reply to some of the comments about disability badges and who they are rewarded too. Being registered disabled should only be part of it. When I was first awarded mine I really struggled to walk distances, and it was a heaven sent gift for me. Later in life I am now wheelchair bound , so some could argue I still need to park close. But now my needs are for more space , not closer parking, because the distance is no longer an issue. My farther in law was not registered, and as he struggled with his fight against Cancer, he got more benefit from my badge than I did when I took him to the supermarket.


My point is, its not always clear cut. They should be facility for a short issue version. Ie 3 months, as well as the normal issue for the likes of myself who are not going to be out of this chair in the near future. Also why not put some at the far end of the car park instead of near the doors. I for one, don't mind wheeling the extra distance and it would stop people using the space for convenience. If I can use a safe row end parking spot , I often do, this way someone with walking difficulties can have the blue badge spot. An Altruistic approach by everyone would go a long way. Oh and shoot the fraudsters of course

I agree, I don't always need a space close to the supermarket (unless I am in a lot of pain or feeling particularly unwell) but generally I don't mind where the space is as long as its a wider space so that I can get into my chair

[sambo-79]

I agrea with you on that ksmiles i am 31 years old and when i pull up in a disabled space the older generation that do stare and point at me, but as soon as they see my 2 arm crutches they soon look away!once there was a gentleman that shouted abuse at me i was quite intimidated but when he saw my badge he just walked off without even saying sorry to me!So you do get judged very easily in this world we just have to take it on the chin as usual.So for the rant people like that just get me so angry.

[parrots]

re, blue"admin charge"up here in Scotland we are being charged to the hilt in some councils,in ours southlanarkshire the fee is £20,the scottish government have said this charge is optional and a charge of up to £20 could be charged,four main cities aberdeen,dundee ,edinburgh,glasgow all charge the full amount,the blue badge is a national scheme so why are there so many different charges,for example the people who pay way under £20 can come to my area and use the badge to park,west dumbartonshire charge £2.56 for this badge which is the exact same style nation wide,in my opinion this is another tax by the back door,RIP OFF.

[HoneyBee]

I've just noticed something that angered me on one council's website (and I'm sure they're not a one-off) ... It was asking people to report to the council if someone parking in a disabled space with a blue badge "doesn't look" disabled. What?!!!!! Doesn't the council know that not all disabilities are immediately visible to the onlooker? I know there are people who flout the law but now it seems we can't be disabled unless it's 100% visible!!!

[littlebib]

thats a disgrace. there are fewer places to park. there was a case on this website where someone reported someone who was not visibly disabled but was in fact terminally ill and passed away a few weeks later. until you are disabled you dont know what its like.

[Happyhamm3r]

yes I agree you don't know how ill people really are. In my area of Essex its not much use having a blue badge, as no matter how many spaces are available they are always full with people waiting. I myself have seen people parking up and walking really fast with their crutches under their arm. I would never shop anyone either. What will be will be.

[Paul]

I've just noticed something that angered me on one council's website (and I'm sure they're not a one-off) ... It was asking people to report to the council if someone parking in a disabled space with a blue badge "doesn't look" disabled. What?!!!!! Doesn't the council know that not all disabilities are immediately visible to the onlooker? I know there are people who flout the law but now it seems we can't be disabled unless it's 100% visible!!!

Any chance of naming them, or showing us a link? I'd be happy to have a word with their diversity department.