Fresh developments have emerged regarding demands to overhaul the Blue Badge scheme for individuals living with particular health conditions. At present, Blue Badge permits are designated for those facing serious mobility challenges, encompassing individuals unable to walk significant distances, those with invisible disabilities that trigger distress or danger, people registered as blind, or those with substantial upper limb impairments that make operating parking meters impossible.
Local authorities determine eligibility through assessment of medical circumstances, benefit entitlements (such as PIP or DLA), or particular requirements for youngsters with healthcare needs.
Blue Badge permits are typically granted for a maximum duration of three years. When eligibility stems from a time-restricted benefit allocation like the mobility element of Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance, the badge's termination date will correspond with that benefit's conclusion if it falls within the three-year window.
Yet worries have surfaced that individuals whose conditions fluctuate over time, improving or deteriorating, might be overlooked. In a recent Parliamentary written inquiry, Liberal Democrat Tom Morrison questioned the Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander: "If she will take steps to extend the qualifying criteria for Blue Badges to ensure that people with (a) Parkinson's and (b) other fluctuating conditions are eligible."
Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, acknowledged that individuals with conditions such as Parkinson's disease do not receive automatic eligibility: "This Government fully recognises the importance of ensuring that the Blue Badge scheme supports those who have their mobility impacted by substantial and enduring disabilities and other health conditions. The current eligibility criteria are focused on the impact on an applicant's mobility, rather than based on specific disabilities or conditions, and can be found on GOV.UK.
"Whilst Parkinson's and other fluctuation conditions are not automatically eligible for a Blue Badge, applicants may still be eligible for a badge based on the evidence provided. Any decisions on an applicant's eligibility are ultimately for the responsible local authority."
Similarly, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell questioned whether councils could be empowered to issue temporary Blue Badges for people recuperating from illness or surgical procedures. He asked Ms Alexander: "What assessment she has made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to introduce a temporary Blue Badge scheme."
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Helen Morgan pressed Ms Alexander on whether she: "Will take steps to ensure that temporary conditions are properly considered under the Blue Badge application process."
Mr Lightwood explained that councils already possess the authority to introduce temporary parking relief measures, though the DWP would keep reviewing potential improvements: "Currently, local authorities, in their capacity as the traffic authority for their area, are already free to consider setting up locally determined temporary parking concessions that could assist the recovery of residents who have recently undergone major surgery or suffered serious illness.
"LAs already have powers under Part IV of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to mark out bays for specific purposes, issue local parking permits, and use Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to reserve spaces for specific purposes. This can be a voluntary local scheme, and the cost and nature of the concession would be for the local authority to decide."
He added: "Whilst the primary focus of the Blue Badge on-street parking scheme is to help people who have an enduring and substantial disability that affects their mobility park closer to their destinations, goods, and services, the Department routinely monitors the scheme to see how it may be improved, to ensure that it continues to serve those who need it most."
