Have your Say on Improvements to Blue Badge Scheme, says MP

Stockport MP Ann Coffey has welcomed the launch of a public consultation on the Disabled Person’s Parking Badge Scheme – the Blue Badge Scheme. The Blue Badge was introduced in 1971 to provide parking close to essential amenities for people with severe mobility problems.

The consultation is being run by the Department for Transport and members of the public are being invited to get involved and give their views before 17th April.

Ann Coffey said:  “The Blue Badge scheme hasn’t been reviewed for a number of years, and I think it can be improved.  For example, the consultation is looking at extending the scheme to include more parents of severely disabled children.  And we do need to crack down on abuses of the scheme and stop people stealing or using the Blue Badge fraudulently.  There are some interesting proposals in the consultation and I do hope people in Stockport who have experience of the Blue Badge Scheme will take a look.”

The government is consulting on how to make it clearer who can qualify for the Blue Badge, secondly on how to use the scheme to help people who have a temporary disability, and thirdly to take action against people who abuse the system.

Ann Coffey concluded “Just go on line or contact my local office for copies of the consultation document.  I am happy to pass on any views or comments direct to the consultation team at the Department for Transport and the deadline is not until 17th April.”

The full consultation document is available on the Department for Transport website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/bluebadgereformstrategy/

Alternatively, please contact Ann Coffey’s local office on 483 2600 for a copy of the document.