Blue badge

[Seasider45]

I have applied for a blue badge for my husband and been refused twice by Lancashire County Council. The first time they said get a letter from your doctors which I did and it cost me £28 but I was still refused. They said "the guidelines state that mental/cognitive/intellectual disabilities are not in themselves a qualification for a badge. Although we appreciate the difficulties and frustrations that dementia sufferers and their carers' experience we are required to assess eligibility for Blue Badges in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Transport." My husband is unable to walk unaided and I need to be able to park in disabled bays because I need to be able to open the door fully as I have to help him move his legs to get out of the car.
I feel I am hitting my head against a brick wall. What am I meant to do. When I rang they said that if I lived in Wales you would get one because enough people had complained. Why is England so behind Wales in getting people with Alzheimers blue badges?

 

[stanleypj]

Have you tried the approach I was advised to use (I've explained it in post #19 above)? It worked for us.

 

[nitram]

Very sorry but the official response for Blue Badge eligibility is:-

My husband is unable to walk unaided
Prove it by eligibility of a defined benefit or assessment.

"and I need to be able to park in disabled bays because I need to be able to open the door fully as I have to help him move his legs to get out of the car."
Nothing to do with the ability to walk.

I've been heavily involved with discretionary Blue Badge awards in my LA who 'stick by the rules', the only chink in their armour at present is to provide documentation from the falls clinic saying that although the person can walk the required distance they are at high risk of falls.

AS powers that be at Devon House simply reply that Blue Badge criteria are not currently up for discussion by the government and will not comment.

Some of my previous posts for reference.
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/show...r-Alzheimers&p=1131585&viewfull=1#post1131585
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?82220-Questiin&p=1095782&viewfull=1#post1095782
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?82220-Questiin&p=1095798&viewfull=1#post1095798

 

[LadyA]

Utterly appalled! :-o
I had a blue badge for William, and my mother (who has never had a drivers license) has one which she brings with her so whoever she travels with can use the disabled bays for her. She is partially disabled and needs support to walk.
Here, the assessment was by a detailed form filled out and certified by the person's GP. Usually that's accepted, although occasionally the disabled drivers association will ask for a review by their own doctor.