Blue is the colour

Just about every car on the road seems to be using a blue badge these days. Now, 37 years after the original scheme was launched, Helen Smith says it’s time for an overhaul

The orange badge scheme was first established in 1971 to provide a range of parking concessions for disabled people.

Since then there have been enormous social, political and environmental changes (not to mention the badge turning blue), so it’s hardly surprising that 37 years later the scheme is in tatters. In response, the government is consulting on a comprehensive blue badge reform strategy that looks at eligibility, concessions and administration, but is it too little, too late?

In my view, the current scheme has failed and there’s an urgent need for radical change. For a start, I can’t remember the last time I was actually able to use my blue badge. Last time I went to the supermarket, every disabled bay was full, so I went home and shopped online. When I went to hospital, I ended up having to be dropped off and picked up as there was nowhere to park. And I don’t even bother driving to the city centre as the chances of finding a space are so low.

The number of badges has soared over the last 20 years. In 1987, 673,000 badges were on issue in England, but by 1996 this had risen to 1,517,000 and by 2007 it had risen again to a whopping 2.3 million. This figure is still growing by four to six per cent a year. Although we have a growing population of older people, are there really 2.3 million severely disabled people in England?

Even if the new reform strategy tackles eligibility, who will make sure all the respective councils adhere to the new guidelines?

And even if changes were brought in tomorrow, it would still be three years before all the current badges expired.

Couple this with the large number of badges, used by non-disabled people, that have been stolen, forged or “borrowed” and you end up with the blue badge disaster we are currently seeing.

The scheme needs radical reform to restore its reputation and credibility. To bring improper use to an end, I propose assessing – in the next six months – every current holder, as they do in some other European countries, and also making sure every new applicant is assessed and meets the criteria. I’d also introduce a national database so traffic wardens can tell instantly if a badge has been reported stolen or the holder has died. This would require investment but if this scheme is to benefit disabled people for another 37 years it is time drastic action was taken.

• The closing date for the DfT’s consultation process is 17 April: www.dft.gov.uk/consultations. To respond, contact Ella Roberts, tel: 020 7944 4780, fax: 020 7944 6102 or email: bluebadgeconsult ation@dft.gsi.gov.uk