A question for blue badge holders

Richie-from-the-Boro

jblack wrote: »

With respect that is a very sweeping statement. My Father is disabled (I asked him the question, he didn't know why). His mobility is limited and he has a BB. However, due to the benefits he receives he's able to use the car which he pays approx £50 per month for. No repair or servicing bills, no RFL, no insurance (no parking fees ) etc.

He's actually better of financially than many able bodied people I know.

Many BB holders are capable of using public transport or walking etc after all you can't always tell just by looking at someone if they're disabled.

I'm thinking it's probably (as mentioned) a blanket policy for all BB holders as it would be a nightmare to differentiate.

- if he's sufficiently severely disabled to get HRM your dad has an opportunity to choose a Motability vehicle or £54.05 / week
- HRM 'passports' him to a Blue Badge 'without further assessment' [previously known as 'automatic]
- if your dad is under 65 its entirely possible he will not qualify under the new assessment - when he needs to reapply for PIP

He's actually better of financially than many able bodied people I know

- he may well be, but I bet he'd swap the car any time for his health back

Many BB holders are capable of using public transport

- but is public transport capable of carrying a BB holder ?

I'd like to make it clear I am not trying to annoy or upset anyone with this question

- not the way your posts come across when I read them

IanG1471

Around where I live, on Council run car parks only those vehicles displaying a disabled tax disc park free. A blue badge on it's own does not entitle one to free parking - you pay the same as the able bodied. Previously a blue badge did give free parking but that was stopped due to the fiscal cutbacks.

In a nearby council area, everyone pays on council run car parks - no exceptions.

All the private ones (NCP etc) charge everybody as well.

So the situation is different across the country.

Ian

jblack_2

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- he may well be, but I bet he'd swap the car any time for his health back

I'm sure he would.

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- but is public transport capable of carrying a BB holder ?

As I said MANY are capable, not all.

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- not the way your posts come across when I read them

How much clearer could I have been? It seems that should anyone dare to question anything relating to disability there will be those who take it as a personal attack. It's like walking on eggshells on this forum at times.

Please feel free to read my posts as you like. If you choose to misconstrue anything I have written then that's your choice. I'd like to think most on here will take my comments as they are intended.

kingfisherblue

In St. Helens you pay the same as everybody else. I don't mind, but I wish that disabled spaces were a bit longer. I prefer to reverse into a space - I find it easier than driving straight in, and I have better visibility when driving out. There are times when I have no choice than to drive in forwards though, as there isn't enough space to open the boot and remove my son's wheelchair if I reverse in. I would happily park further away if longer spaces were available, as my son would not suffer as a result - he would be in the wheelchair with either me or my younger son pushinbg him.

Richie-from-the-Boro

jblack wrote: »

I'm sure he would.



As I said MANY are capable, not all.



How much clearer could I have been? It seems that should anyone dare to question anything relating to disability there will be those who take it as a personal attack. It's like walking on eggshells on this forum at times.

Please feel free to read my posts as you like. If you choose to misconstrue anything I have written then that's your choice. I'd like to think most on here will take my comments as they are intended.

- I can't see why why blue badge holders do not have to pay to park in car parks
- I can't see why why blue badge holders do not have to pay the London congestion charge park in car parks
- my father is actually better of financially than many able bodied people I know
- many BB holders are capable of using public transport or walking etc

You wrote the above, I just highlighted for others what appears to be a disabled bashing thread, and that is what it is. Writing a pre-disclaimer does not change what you yourself writ large.

Please feel free to read my posts as you like

I will !

jblack_2

jblack wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why blue badge holders do not have to pay to park in car parks?

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- I can't see why why blue badge holders do not have to pay to park in car parks

If you're going to quote what I 'writ large' then at least quote it as I 'wrote' it, not as you twist it.

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- my father is actually better of financially than many able bodied people I know
- many BB holders are capable of using public transport or walking etc

Care to tell me what is makes these statements 'disabled bashing'? If it's untrue then I'll happily be corrected but don't start throwing accusations about who or what I am.

You seem to have a pretty large chip on your shoulder. If you're incapable of having a sensible conversation maybe you should toddle off elsewhere.

Brassedoff

jblack wrote: »

Hello All

Firstly I'd like to make it clear I am not trying to annoy or upset anyone with this question.

Can anyone tell me why blue badge holders do not have to pay to park in car parks? I completely agree and understand the need to park close to entrances and the need for wider spaces etc but not why the parking fee is exempt.

I also understand the London congestion charge is not payable by BB holders. Again I can't see why.

I appreciate some BB holders have limited income but then so do others.

My local council require BB's to pay as well. When they changed the rules they claimed it would say £30K a year. It turns out that it didn't, it made them £8.5K a year. In the end it was not worth the hassle it brought them in the local paper

Parva

jblack wrote: »

If you're going to quote what I 'writ large' then at least quote it as I 'wrote' it, not as you twist it.



Care to tell me what is makes these statements 'disabled bashing'? If it's untrue then I'll happily be corrected but don't start throwing accusations about who or what I am.

You seem to have a pretty large chip on your shoulder. If you're incapable of having a sensible conversation maybe you should toddle off elsewhere.

I fail to understand where Richie hasn't highlighted the flaws in your argument. Indeed I would go one step further and ponder whether your father is actually disabled and deserving of the blue badge if I am understanding your version of events and indeed the car given your comment...

My Father is disabled (I asked him the question, he didn't know why).

Any further statements you make after this are a moot point. Your father clearly should not be receiving the highest rate mobility nor should he have a blue badge if neither he nor you can understand why he should be classed as 'disabled'. Good luck with PiP. Not sure who is more ignorant of the qualifying factors for DLA and the blue badge and even less sure that someone got awarded it wrongly thanks to your input.

System

Parva wrote: »

My Father is disabled (I asked him the question, he didn't know why).

Any further statements you make after this are a moot point. Your father clearly should not be receiving the highest rate mobility nor should he have a blue badge if neither he nor you can understand why he should be classed as 'disabled'.

That is a clear case of being unable to follow and understand a thread.

The question in this case was why BB holders get to park free not why he is disabled. DOH!

The_mangler

I have no issue with having to pay for parking - however I think it should be a blanket charge and not a timed one as it can take twice as long for my husband to negotiate shops, doorways, ramps etc, even using the loo and having to wait for the one disabled one to become available when able bodied people often have a choice.

In this respect it seems disabled people are discriminated against for not being able to complete tasks as fast as able-bodied people.