Blue badge was like a lifeline for Portslade pensioner (From The Argus)
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Blue badge was like a lifeline for Portslade pensioner
4:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
A pensioner who was left with permanent problems after developing MRSA in hospital has been told he is too healthy for a blue badge.
Charles Humphrey, 78, of Portslade, was given the parking badge after contracting the disease while being treated for cancer three years ago.
He was left with severe incontinence and was given a disabled badge. But under new Government rules he is now no longer allowed to park in disabled bays because he can walk ninety metres unaided.
He says that the badge gave him easier access to public toilets and now he is virtually housebound.
But appeals to Brighton and Hove City Council and the ombudsman have been turned down.
Mr Humphrey said: “I can’t really go anywhere anymore. I’m 78 and live alone and the blue badge gave me easy parking and closer access where I can attend my needs.
“I had the badge for three years and now they have taken it away. Can Brighton and Hove stoop any lower?
“To park and walk 90 metres to a toilet is now an impossibility.
“When I complained they said they were following the new procedures, but it has had a huge affect on my life.”
The Department for Transport introduced badge reforms last year.
Making the changes, Transport Minister and Lewes MP Norman Baker said the old system was “hopelessly out of date and very easy to defraud”.
But under the new rules only people with permanent severe mobility problems are eligible, meaning many people with medical conditions previously entitled to parking concessions are no longer allowed badges.
A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “The council very much supports increasing accessibility for disabled people through the blue badge scheme.
"However, we are unable to issue a blue badge to anyone who does not meet the criteria, which is set down nationally. This case has also been looked at independently.
“The new criteria is on mobility rather than other conditions. Applicants are assessed independently.”
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Comments(12)
fredaj
says...
7:40pm Thu 7 Mar 13
mustaphaLeeko
says...
10:23pm Thu 7 Mar 13
However it is time the system of who is eligible is reviewed, I know a guy who got issued a blue disabled badge just because he is partially deaf and not in any way infirm!
As for able people who park in disabled places, they are scumbags!
evon
says...
7:35am Fri 8 Mar 13
Ballroom Blitz
says...
7:45am Fri 8 Mar 13
By way of contrast, I know someone who can easily walk 90 metres, and who has a disabled badge. So how's that happened?
Not very even handed.
getThisCoalitionOut
says...
12:30pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Ballroom Blitz wrote:You are tested on one day by someone at a centre - so if you're good at faking your inablility to walk, you'll get a blue badge! I've heard of people being watched as they get out of their car to get to the appointment, then they fake it for the appointment but they don't get a blue badge as they're told afterwards they were watched earlier!
Disgraceful decision. Can't anyone use their common sense when assessing people? His is an unusual reason for needing a badge, not covered in the regulations, and needs a bit of flexibility from the authorities.
By way of contrast, I know someone who can easily walk 90 metres, and who has a disabled badge. So how's that happened?
Not very even handed.
There are a lot of people with blue badges - the majority are genuine, but it's a shame that some see it as open season to fake and get something they should not really have.
Kiddon72
says...
12:37pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Simple solution. No adapted car - no blue badge.
ripmaxman
says...
12:49pm Fri 8 Mar 13
I see many people with blue badges parking and then walking to Cheetahs Gym for a work out and during the summer people parking on the seafront and going for a walk, to the beach or Morocco’s and what do the council do nothing!
qm
says...
1:05pm Fri 8 Mar 13
redwing
says...
1:07pm Fri 8 Mar 13
wippasnapper
says...
3:54pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Disability discrimination Act http://www.nidirect.
gov.uk/index/informa
tion-and-services/pe
ople-with-disabiliti
es/rights-and-obliga
tions/disabled-peopl
es-rights-in-everyda
y-life.htm
This is what it state: The Blue Badge Scheme is an important service for people with severe mobility problems that enables badge holders to park close to where they need to go…
You can get a badge if:
• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• you are registered blind
• you receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• you have a permanent and substantial disability which means you cannot walk, or have very considerable difficulty walking - in this case your doctor may be asked to answer a series of questions to confirm your eligibility for a badge
• you drive a vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter
• children under the age of two, if they have a disability due to a medical condition and need to travel with bulky equipment, or to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment, may be eligible for a badge
tinker111
says...
6:23pm Fri 8 Mar 13
lochness says...
7:01pm Thu 7 Mar 13