Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart is pushing for a fair deal for blue badge clock users with his constituent Katrina Gardner – an active thalidomide campaigner.
Ms Gardner, of Sproatley, is one of many thalidomides who are able to drive without use of their arms and has qualified for the Government’s Blue Badge scheme, of which she makes regular use. However, like many others, Katrina is unable to set the clock of her blue badge and has therefore received several parking tickets.
Graham feels this is deeply unfair and is pushing for local and national reform to help those who are unable to change the Blue Badge clock in their car and so risk incurring parking tickets. He has taken the issue up both locally with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and nationally with Ministers at the Department for Transport.
The Department of Transport Blue Badge scheme leaflet appears to state that local authorities may choose to allow Blue Badge holders unlimited parking on yellow lines.
Graham has raised this with the Council – asking them to consider this as a solution to the problem at a local level and they have offered Katrina a concession which would allow her to park in the area without receiving fines.
Graham also wants to see national provision for disabled people without arms, which would remove the possibility of them being hit with a parking fine outside their local council area. As well as thalidomide victims, the exemption might cover wounded service personnel.
Graham said;
“This is a problem which needs a fair and simple national solution. The Blue Badge scheme is well designed and represents a vital contribution to the independence and self-sufficiency of many disabled people.”
“However, Ms Gardner’s case has highlighted to me the problems which thalidomide victims and anyone with severe disability to their upper limbs may face when driving and using a blue badge. It is worth noting that this will also include a number of injured servicemen and women who have lost the use of their arms whilst serving our country overseas.”
There are a number of people who have this difficulty and so it should be possible for a solution to be found which would allow this class of disabled people to park on yellow and double yellow lines without incurring fines.”
To ensure disabled people are not unfairly and unintentionally excluded from disability parking provisions, Graham raised this issue with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Andrew Jones MP. The Minister wrote back and confirmed that this issue will be considered in an upcoming review.
Andrew Jones MP stated:
“We are looking to make improvements to the way the Blue Badge Scheme is administered and I will make sure this issue is considered as part of that review.
I am extremely aware of the importance of the Scheme and the vital part it plays in helping disabled people in the community maintain active lives. I’m very keen to keep its integrity, prevent any fraud and consider the real life experiences of users, such as Ms Gardner, as we plan the future.”
Katrina Gardner added:
“I had to contact my local council for an exemption badge which I have in my car window, but this is only available in my council area. If I need to travel in any other area run by a different council then this becomes null and void. Should anyone need a badge from their local council, then they need to contact them stating their disability and explain the fact that they cannot change their clocks.
“This is definitely a country-wide problem for disabled drivers and I feel that more can be done to prevent us from being hit with unfair parking fines which are not our fault. This is positive news from the Minister and I am pleased to hear that this problem with blue badge clocks will be given the attention it deserves.”
