Appeal to Widen Blue Badge Scheme

5.18.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Apr 2008

Local councils and MPs have been invited to respond to a government consultation on the 'blue badge' parking scheme for the disabled.

Vincent Cable, MP, has responded asking for more flexibility on the basis of local residents he has encountered with highly restricted mobility.

He commented; "In recent years I have encountered cases of people with Crohn's Disease (a bowel condition which requires rapid access to a loo); a very vulnerable child with learning difficulties whose parents need to maintain close contact with their child when parking; a severely ill baby with an oxygen cylinder (babies are not covered); and people with severe injuries which are not permanent and incurable: in every case a blue badge was refused as they did not fit within a narrow definition of eligible conditions. I even secured a debate in parliament when I sought to persuade ministers to be more flexible. At long last there is a consultation".

"I fully appreciate that it is important to prevent a devaluations of the scheme with councils handing out blue badges indiscriminately. But there is at present a degree of rigidity which prevents really needy cases receiving help".