Islanders are being reminded that new Blue Badge parking qualifications for people with non-visible disabilities are being brought in from 30th August.
The Department for Transport is introducing the changes to help people whose non-visible disabilities are assessed as enduring and substantial. These may be people who during a journey have very considerable difficulty while walking, and which may include considerable psychological distress.
Details on who may qualify and how to apply will be available on the iwight.com and gov.uk websites from the end of this month.
Applications should be made via the gov.uk website – and these will then be processed locally by the Isle of Wight Council.
Councillor Stuart Hutchinson, deputy council leader, says:
“We hope this will help those deserving Islanders who have missed out on parking assistance under the existing criteria.
“This is a national change and we are advising those who think they may now qualify to look closely at the new criteria.”
Applications will need to include acceptable evidence of a qualifying condition, and the processing will include input from accredited healthcare professionals. Because of the strict criteria, not all who apply will be successful.
In advance of the change the council is contacting key groups including Age UK and Citizen’s Advice.
To assist potential applicants the council’s website will also include some frequently asked questions from 30th August.
Currently, around 8,000+ Island residents have Blue Badges.
At last.. All disabilities can be seen..
Can’t *
People with strong mental issues should NOT be driving anyway, as they are a danger. Surely now with cut backs for everyone else, it makes sense to just issue three or four FREE taxi trips per week and END disability cars? Many people claim these cars, and a parking space, then their family use the car for work etc, meaning the disabled car space cannot be used by others.
Years ago, a tiny single occupant three wheeler made of plastic was issued for disabled people and then the rest of the family couldn’t abuse the system.
Three free taxi rides per week would suffice most and would give work to local firms instead of just a brand new car taking a much needed car parking space for rare, or family unintended usage.
Amen to this Yesterday we were walking along the road at Puckpool and because the car park was full. A disabled badge car had parked on double yellows, this meant walking further in the middle of the road with a baby in a pram with lots of other cars trying to get through !
Blue badge holders are allowed to park on double yellow lines, it is all in the handbook that comes with the badge. Obviously you would expect the badge holder to use some common sense when doing this, and not block a road.