Councils will be given new ways of preventing and clamping down on Blue Badge abuse as part of a package of proposals for a radical overhaul of the scheme, Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan announced today.
The Blue Badge Scheme provides a vital lifeline to around 2.5 million disabled people every year by prioritising key parking spaces close to important services, for those who need it most.
The Government is consulting on detailed plans to enable local authorities to enforce against abuse, including powers to confiscate stolen or forged badges on the spot following the biggest review of the scheme since it was introduced over 30 years ago. These powers will also help to reduce Blue Badge associated vehicle crime.
Sadiq Khan said:
"From visiting friends and family, to attending a doctor’s appointment or getting to and from work, the Blue Badge Scheme helps millions of disabled people throughout England retain their independence.
"However, our 2008 strategy paper highlighted the extent to which some people are abusing the Scheme which means that it does not benefit as many people as it should - this can't be allowed to happen.
"This consultation gives greater detail on how we can tackle these problems and aims to ensure that the right people get a badge in the first place."
Other proposals include extending the scheme to more children under three years of age and seriously injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans. The consultation also aims to ensure that assessments of who should be entitled to a badge are fairer.
Notes to editors
1. The Department published its Comprehensive Blue Badge Reform Strategy in October 2008 which outlined plans for reforming the Blue Badge Scheme over a five year period. This followed a public consultation (between January and April 2008) and a robust programme of research, economic analysis and stakeholder engagement.
2. The Implementing the Blue Badge Reform Programme Consultation will be launched on the Department’s website on the 22 nd March 2010. This will run for 14 weeks closing on the 2 nd July 2010, see link http://www.dft.gov.uk/c onsultations/open/2010-20/
3. The consultation covers England only as the Blue Badge scheme is a devolved matter. The Welsh Assembly Government published its own reform strategy in December 2009, “A Modern Blue Badge Scheme for Wales: Action Plan for key stakeholders”. The Scottish Government has set up a Blue Badge Reform Working Group and is considering similar legislative changes to the ones being considered in England. The Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland has made recent changes to its Blue Badge scheme.
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