Family's anger after gran is refused disabled badge
A GREAT-GRAN who has had a stroke, two heart attacks and struggles with arthritis in her hip has been refused a disabled parking badge.
Margaret Inger, 82, had an assessment with Notts County Council to renew her badge when it expired.
But officials decided she could manage without it.
Her family challenged the decision but lost and have now contacted Ashfield MP Gloria de Piero, who has pledged to help.
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Mrs Inger, of Brinsley, said: "I've had a blue badge for around six years now. It is very important to me as my car is my little bit of independence. I use it to get to the shops.
"I need the blue badge because I have to park in the disabled spaces so I have room to get out of my car.
"I need to open the door fully to get out and in normal spaces there isn't room for this.
"I'm disappointed I have been refused. I had a mobility test and they decided I was ok without one."
Mrs Inger's son-in-law Stephen Beck said: "It is outrageous. How can they say she doesn't need the blue badge? She struggles to get around at times. On some days she can't even carry a shopping bag.
"It makes you wonder how many other people are out there who are being told they can't have a badge when they clearly need one.
"She has difficulty because of her arthritis. And the stroke has left her very weak.
"She is very independent and doesn't like to make a fuss, but we can't let this decision lie."
Mrs Inger was first assessed in November and told she was ineligible. The family appealed but the council replied on December 22, saying it was upholding the decision.
It was then they contacted Miss de Piero.
She said: "We got in touch with the chief executive of the county council when we heard from the family. They replied back saying they weren't changing their minds, which we didn't find acceptable.
"We are offering our help to Mrs Inger in any way we can, including with the ombudsman service, should she want to take that route."
The family has not decided whether to go to the ombudsman.
David Hamilton, service director at the council, said: "Mrs Inger had an assessment with an occupational therapist to determine how far she could walk and whether she suffered from pain or breathlessness while walking.
"Although Mrs Inger does have a variety of conditions, which we took into account at the assessment, they did not impact on her ability to walk on the day. Therefore, she unfortunately did not meet the national criteria set by the Department of Transport for a blue badge.
"If Mrs Inger's situation changes, we will happily arrange for another assessment."
6 Comments
by FormerlyW
Friday, February 01 2013, 8:54PM
“""It is not a requirement to have a blue badge to park in a disabled space" --- smshogun
Ah, now you are making up European law, smshogun. Do you have a new neighbour who is an EU Commissioner, who is grateful that you have explained to him how EU regulations work?
Here, by the way, is what the EU actually has to say on the subject of blue-badge parking:
http://tinyurl.com/af8rfgg”
by Vox_Populii
Thursday, January 31 2013, 9:19PM
“With all due respect to Mrs Inger, I do question whether it's safe for her to drive at all given the various illnesses she has suffered. As per Scott's comment, her reaction times may not be what they were.. I dunno, I appreciate that she wants her independence and what not, but I'd be concerned for her safety and more importantly that of other road-users and pedestrians.”
by smshogun
Thursday, January 31 2013, 5:16PM
“It is not a requirement to have a blue badge to park in a disabled space, it is a requirement to have a disabled person with you under an EU ruling, many wrongly assume that because you don't display a blue badge you're parked incorrectly.”
by icecrystal
Thursday, January 31 2013, 2:44PM
“I note how many Blue Badge spaces are regularly blocked by non-disabled people who "just want to get a few things" from a store or bank machine. Even having a Badge isn't much use when this happens, and it happens most times I go to a store. For shame.”
by CALTHROSS
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:19PM
“Fair comment Scott Notts but then there are those driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs.”
by Scott_Notts
Thursday, January 31 2013, 12:52PM
“Given the lost of ailments, is this lady safe to drive? I wonder if she could she do an emergency stop if needed.”