Blue Badge Rule Change To Allow For People With Hidden Disabilities

[Deskdiary]

Do people who are anxious really need to be able to park a bit closer to the shops?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/29/parking-permits-extended-people-hidden-disabilities/

[spathiphyllum]

Blue parking isn't only for ability to be closer to the shops, the spaces are wider to allow for wheel chair access ETC...

[Deskdiary]

"On the plus side at least those hundreds of empty disabled parking spaces I always have to drive past will now see some use, but I'd be worried that people who really need them such as wheelchair users etc will struggle to find one."

Yes, that crossed my mind too.

How long before the obese qualify? They have mobility issues.

[ludwig]

There are an awful lot of people on various medications for anxiety and depression these days. Presumably they will now qualify for a blue badge, although I can't see why they need extra wide parking.

Unless they allocate a whole load more spaces, the existing ones will go from being hardly ever used to pretty much full all the time.

[pastafreak]

I've not read them all....but spaths insensitive, and dare I say it...ignorant comments, have almost reduced me to tears. God help you spath, if you ever experience real, disabling, anxiety.
Go educate yourself...please.

[bainbrig]

When I first applied for a Blue Badge I literally (amazing, an accurate use of the word) had to remove my prosthetic leg and show it to the council woman.

Nowadays, it does puzzle me see Blue Badged drivers jump out of their cars and skip lightly to the shops.

Maybe enforcement is the key.

[NellieMay]

As a blue badge holder for many years, the biggest asset to me is a wide parking space. I physically can't get out of a vehicle without opening the door wide. I also have always suffered from anxiety issues unrelated from the physical issues. I am racking my brain to think of any benefits anxiety sufferers will have by having a blue badge. Hidden disabilities is another issue. You can't judge a person by looking at them! I must live in an area where disability spaces in car parks are thin on the ground. It's difficult to find an empty blue badge space.

[NellieMay]

And Pasta, I have experienced dreadful anxiety and been medically treated for it. How would a blue badge be useful to me? I dont think Spaths post was ignorant.

[ummmm]

Surely anxiety is triggered by different things for different people ...

[NellieMay]

You are right ummm. However, if the lack of somewhere to park triggers that much anxiety (and it could) then should you be driving at all? It will end up as Blue Badges for all and no spaces for those who can't do without them. I am a very regular hospital attended and I can never get a disability space. So it involves someone else having to drive me and drop me off.

[spathiphyllum]

Maybe instead of blue parking, make a whole new thing called "purple parking" for those with mental health issues. Obviously they will need to acquire a purple parking card by proving to the council they have a medically diagnosed mental illness. However, these spaces don't need to be extra wide to allow for wheelchair accessibility. Instead they could be next to the blue parking area.

[hereIam]

Totally agree with spath (for once).

[NellieMay]

It's an idea Spath, but I still don't see what advantage a person with extreme anxiety would get from a blue badge. My blue badge also gives me additional advantages in that a carer can accompany me free to events, cinemas etc. I can understand that would be good for mental health issues. So a different type of badge for people with mental health problems would be an idea, but not a blue badge for parking if they are physically fit.

[spathiphyllum]

As i've said on previous answers on this thread I personally don't feel parking closer to the shop will help someone with anxiety but others feel different.. So, one solution is, instead of wrapping it up with blue badge holders (main benefit is the additional width of the spaces for access) I think they would be better off with a whole new type of badge.

Home delivery is always an option also which i'm sure many people with blue badges use.

[Spicerack]

I'm anxious to see those removed answers.
The system is already being abused big time.
Anyone remember the programme on telly where the police were nabbing all the fiddlers outside Harrods or some other big shop in London.

[spathiphyllum]

The answers removed were mine. They were in response to Pasta. I used the report function and sent in a politely worded request to the editor to remove them.

[ummmm]

Nellie - the blue badge holder doesn't have to be driving.

[Spicerack]

Never retreat.

[gness]

Purple badges for those with mental health problems.
What a fantastic idea, Spath.......just what those with deep anxiety, depression.....parents of an autistic child need....children of a mother with Alzheimer’s need.
They already have to deal with the ignorance of those who refuse to understand the problems these conditions bring with them so let’s advertise the fact with purple parking spaces.
I doubt you have read the article properly yet once again you post your ill informed and insensitive comments.
I know how the temporary use of a Blue Badge would have helped me to get my mother to her hospital appointments.....to perhaps take her for short trips out.
And if you have ever had to get an elderly lady with dementia out of a car you’d know that a much wider space is needed....even without a wheelchair.