A question for blue badge holders

jblack_2

Parva wrote: »

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.

I fully understand why my Father is disabled. He is a person you could look at and immediately realise he has mobility issues. The fact he couldn't answer the question why parking is free doesn't make him less so.

He's over 65 so PiP shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't know there was such a variation from county to county.

With reference to hospital parking, in our area it varies from £1.80 for 1hr to £10 for a full day. It's free to BB holders but why anyone should pay is beyond me. It's not like a town centre car park which most use out of choice to go shopping etc. Visiting a hospital is normally through necessity rather than choice.

The_mangler

jblack wrote: »

With reference to hospital parking, in our area it varies from £1.80 for 1hr to £10 for a full day. It's free to BB holders but why anyone should pay is beyond me. It's not like a town centre car park which most use out of choice to go shopping etc. Visiting a hospital is normally through necessity rather than choice.

Thankfully here in Wales hospital parking is free for everyone and my local council also provides free parking. However I was absolutely amazed how much it cost for everyone to park when we visited Dorset recently.

markmarkmark

Brassedoff wrote: »

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.

And they probably blew that 8.5 k on expenses in a couple of weeks!

schrodie

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.

It's at the council's discretion. Some councils charge BB holders whilst others don't. Private car parks generally do charge. My local hospital disgracefully charges patients and visitors and even employees the privilege of parking in their car parks but initially didn't charge BB holders, then as money got tighter they granted BB holders the first 2 hours free; now as the NHS is so strapped for cash they have decided to charge BB holders the same extortionate parking charge they charge everyone else. Generally what BB holders do in my hospital is if they aren't staying long is to ignore the charge and ignore any "notice" that appears on their windscreen as there is very little the hospital can do to chase up the parking charge unlike councils where they can pursue you through bailiffs etc.

nannytone_2

i have often wondered this myself ( although a lot of car parks do still charge... the bllue badge just gives a preferential position)
disability doesnt always mean lack of funds.

to the person that said having a disability costs more .... parking isnt really a cost directly attributed to disability ... its a charge that everyone has

The_mangler

nannytone wrote: »

i have often wondered this myself ( although a lot of car parks do still charge... the bllue badge just gives a preferential position)
disability doesnt always mean lack of funds.

to the person that said having a disability costs more .... parking isnt really a cost directly attributed to disability ... its a charge that everyone has

true but my poin t is my husband is discriminated against by being charged more for parking than able bodied people because it takes him longer to get around places

nannytone_2

but DLA is awarded for the extra costs of disability. surely this is what the mobility componant is intended for?

i am redistered blind, so tend to walk slower than average ///
mums with young kids tend to take a while as do elderly people without disabilities ...
should parents and the elderl;y receive cheaper parking too?

artichi

Blue badges aren't always awarded because of mobility issues, it can be because of issues using a ticket machine.

Richie-from-the-Boro

artichi wrote: »

Blue badges aren't always awarded because of mobility issues, it can be because of issues using a ticket machine.

- and if you don't drive
- and if you are aged under 3
- and if you have a DS 1500

dori2o

nannytone wrote: »

i have often wondered this myself ( although a lot of car parks do still charge... the bllue badge just gives a preferential position)
disability doesnt always mean lack of funds.

to the person that said having a disability costs more .... parking isnt really a cost directly attributed to disability ... its a charge that everyone has

If the only way you can get around is by using a car either as the driver or a passenger, then parking charges are a cost associated with disability.

For instance, I am currently unable to use public transport (though I hope this to be resolved soon) without sufferring from significant amounts of pain, swelling and discomfort, so I have no choice but to drive to work.

For anyone else in the same position their living costs (which includes commuting costs) are drastically increased. They have the cost of fuel, the additional cost of insurance (must include commuting in the policy), wear and tear on the vehicle, and unless you are very fortunate, the cost of parking.

On average, for me, it costs in excess of £170 a month in fuel alone.

On the tram it costs just over £90 a month if you don't have a disabled travel pass, or £1.50 a day if you do.

Either way even on fuel alone it's almost 50% cheaper at least to travel by public transport.