The number of blue badge holders on the Isle of Wight has increased by 25% since 2013, new data has revealed.
Back in 2013, there were 2,990 Islanders with blue badges. This was around 1.6% of the Island’s population.
Now, as of the latest dataset (2022’s figures), there are some 3,712 blue badge holders – an increase of 822.
Surprisingly the number of badge holders was at its highest in 2019 when 3,796 people on the Island held a badge. The year after there was a significant drop with around 600 fewer people being recipients of one. This was most likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re disabled or have a health condition that affects your mobility, you can apply for a Blue Badge. Councils can charge up to £10 for the use of one and they need to be renewed every 3 years.
In June 2022, Island Echo reported that the elderly population of people over 65 on the Island has grown by 25% since 2011. However, not all blue badge holders are elderly.
Judging by the number of blue badge holders who have no mobility problems, taking dogs down to beach for a long walk, parking in pay and display bays and running 200 yards to hovercraft with a rucksack, a large bag and being pulled by a large black dog as well as the ones using a family members badge illegally it seems anyone can get one, before i was given mine i had to go to St Mary’s and be assessed by physiotherapists and that is how it should be done.
The Blue Badge scheme as become a joke.
So many families use their disabled relatives blue Badge.
That is the fault of zero enforcement (as usual) on the island, not the scheme itself. Traffic wardens should be challenging drivers who appear to be using a blue badge improperly by insisting on seeing the badge, as it has a photo of the person it was issued to on the back of it. If they are not that person and cannot produce them (they could have arrived alone to pick the disabled person up for example), they should be prosecuted. In Leicester, they regularly prosecute people who are abusing the scheme and denying a genuinely disabled person of a parking space.
Yes I had too. We getting more and more people from mainland moving here and getting badges
You still need a assessment unless you on high pip
Hardly surprising with all of the retirees moving to the Island.
A lot of them aren’t going to be in the best of health.
It will come to all of us in the end
We all get old, yes.
We don’t all have to move to the Isle of Wight when we do so.
I think you missed the bit that pointed out that not all disabled badge holders are elderly, Fibs. The majority obviously will be because, guess what, the older you get the less able you become matter how fit you try to stay.A truism everyone discovers to their painful cost. What would be really interesting would be to report the statistics on any increase in blue badges granted to people under retirement age.
A lot of them are just plain fat or obese and too lazy to walk anywhere vicious circle
You don’t need a blue Badge just do what the uneducated Numpties do.
Park 24/7 on pavements outside the old council houses along
Great Preston Road Ryde – you won’t be fined because on the Island you are
allowed to park on pavements and make it unsafe for pedestrians.
Park outside Sandown Pier on the Double Yellow lines and you won’t receive a ticket.
Park on the pavement outside Yummy Tummy’s in Shanklin on the pavement blocking
pedestrian pavement, that is also allowed on the Island.
Who’s needs a Blue Badge
The Island have no Leadership when it’s comes to Road Safety!
Not all disabilities are obvious, especially to the blinkered S.A eyes.
The Great Preston rd parking on the pavement young lady has chaffed skin problems, and an eating disorder.
Just because she doesn’t shout about it, but gets on with her life without causing a fuss, no need to blame her parking on the woes of the Island
Best you move to an area where there are no cars or pavements like South Africa, outback, YOU may be happier, and Great Preston road residents certainly would be without an outsider picking on disabled British young mothers at ever given chance.
Still not seen the double yellows appear yet either.
I am at a loss understanding how an eating disorder and ” chaffed skin problems” would warrant either a blue badge or the right to park on a pavement and blocking it.
So true Reg, some people think they are above the law.
Their problem is obviously brain related (lack of brains)
If a vehicle blocks a pavement there is a strong chance a person could
get run over due to having to walk around the vehicle by walking out into the Road.
No excuses for Parking on Pavements.
Tow all vehicles away that park on pavements
Pavements should be free of vehicles at all times.
The poor girl is overweight and this causes her thighs to rub together and chaff.
I don’t see why some disabled issues should NEED to be explained to the world on this site though.
Just have a little more sympathy for a working family doing their best to cope with life’s challenges.
We live near there and never have a problem walking on the inside of the car if parked there.
Stop this bullying of this young mother and hard working dad.
We know that a mouthy SA ‘woman’ has parking issues but leave the girl out of this please.
The disorder would come under the Mental Health part of the application.
Double Yellow Lines are coming to STOP bone idle
Numpties parking on pavements.
So 1 family of simpletons think they can block a pedestrian walkway
and cause an obstruction to other motorists.
Chaffed legs and eating disorders does not give anyone the right to block a
Pavement to persons who are really disabed.
So what is the excuse of the idiot who parks the van on the pavement is he also disabled,
or is he just clueless!
Many of the old council houses along Great Preston Road have off street parking
If the Numpty who drives the Yellow Corsa has problems, then maybe she should park
on the drive NOT ON THE PAVEMENT!
That’s the problem when an Household owns too many vehicles it causes problems.
Disability or not
DO NOT PARK ON A PAVEMENT
Pavements are for pedestrians not for idiots to park on.
It does not matter where in the country or where in the world one
comes from.
Educated persons know it’s wrong to park a vehicle on a pavement.
Stop defending idiots
End of!
If I was living at a property with not enough parking
I would either own less vehicles or move to a property with enough
Parking spaces.
It’s about time the Council charged Permit Parking along Great Preston Road,
nothing is more frustrating when you return home from a hards days work and
you cannot park your vehicle due to some households owning 2 plus vehicles.
Unlike some tenants along Great Preston Road, I park in Nicholson Road and walk to
my Home, unlike the persons who are too lazy and park on the pavement.
You are so very right. Many times I have yo get out in road as a car or ban parked on pavement, nothing gets done about this no joke in wheelchair
Mike I am no expert on law but should an accident take place
I would imagine the Council would be liable for incompetence
The Council have a duty of care to make sure pavements are not blocked by
Vehicles.
The Council are responsible for Island Roads etc and Island Roads
employ District Stewards who should notice such events taking place.
Also the owner of the vehicle would be liable for Parking on a pavement
in the first place, their insurance would be void.
Yet a tar mac ‘pinch point’ is fine as it slows the traffic, as does the yellow Corsa.
People can then cross the road as it slows traffic and causes gaps, otherwise a continual stream of never ending 30mph plus cars making it harder for people to cross.
Paul and daughter need a medal for their contribution to road safety, not chastising and bullying imo.
You are having a laugh, they are causing nothing but traffic problems
along a very busy Road / Rat Run.
I am surprised the Police have not stopped this pavement parking.
Wouldn’t be allowed in many countries.
I’m thinking of retiring to the Isle of Wight. My mate Bob has lined up a nice little place for me.
Come on down Boris. We got loads of space for you and I’ll vouch for you at the club.
Anyone can get a badge, if they want it badly enough.
Not all disabilities are seen. Don’t judge people unless you truly know their back story. Since the ruling that people with unseen disabilities can apply for a blue badge, around 2019-2020 then obviously people who were previously excluded can now apply which thankfully many have, may explain the figures without the hype headlines?
If a person is fit enough to walk a certain distance, they don’t need a Blue Badge.
They are taking a space that a person who cannot walk may require.
There are many disabilities like you say, but many don’t require a Blue Badge.
And you would know?
Go and enlighten yourself before making such a comment.
Jeez, this place is full of haters.
No, just common sense. That isn’t hate.
Exactly. People with Adhd are NOT disabled!! They can walk!! The world’s going mad..
Totally agree with you, also get a nice shiny new mobility car to display their blue badge in!
I start to wonder if a ‘disability ‘ is SO well ‘hidden’; Is it actually disabling?!!!
Blue badges used to be only for people with serious mobility issues, and rightly so. Now that it has been opened up to anyone with practically any disability, whether it impairs their mobility or not, is it any wonder that the number of blue badges has risen, and will continue to rise. Blame all the human rights, unfair discrimination and equal opportunity numpties for that.
I love using my blue badge and getting my DLA which I don’t need hehehe
You will have no teeth left soon
So grateful for my badge which gives me access to town, supermarkets etc within easy reach. Thank god for the help
As long as you are physically disabled…?
The problem rests with the council. There are two classifications of blue badge holders.
1. The genuinely disabled, as decreed by the DWP and DLA(PIP) who have stringent rules with regards disability.
2. Those who visit their local council and say they are disabled or cannot walk far without getting out of breath etc. and put on an act to convince the council. The council then issue a blue badge without any examination. These people would stand no chance under DWP rules.
It is time the whole blue badge matter was sorted out, and should only be issued to the “genuinely” disabled. Even young children can get a blue badge.
There are two degrees of blue badge. The genuine ones as issued to members of the DLA, and then there are those issued by local councils to any tom dick and harry who claim disability. If people are not registered as disabled with the DLA then they should not have a blue badge.