Blue badge shake-up if congestion charge happens (From Community Newsgroup)

Blue badge shake-up if congestion charge happens

4:16pm Monday 1st December 2008

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STOCKPORT Council has condemned proposals from congestion charge supporters to change the blue badge parking system for people with mobility problems.

One of the leading supporters is quoted on a BBC website claiming major changes will be made in the way the badges are allocated.

Councillor Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester about the bid to the Transport Innovation fund to introduce transport improvements, paid for largely by a peak time congestion charge. Asked how the proposed 100 per cent discount for disabled blue badge holders would work, Cllr Leese said: "The blue badge holders will have to register a vehicle and it will have to be based on that vehicle. "It means a blue badge, for the purposes of the congestion charge, aren't transferable to any vehicle."

Under current laws the blue badge is allocated to named individuals with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The badge can currently be used in any vehicle as long as the badge holder is travelling within it to ensure access to good, dedicated parking.

Kieran McMahon from Disability Stockport added: "I cannot endorse reducing Blue Badge entitlement to one car as not everyone can rely on one vehicle being able to take them where they need. "Under the Equality Duty, it is a requirement to produce an Impact Assessment to ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged and to specifically consult with disabled people on the proposal. These are mandatory requirements and are liable to legal challenge if not carried out."

Leader of Stockport Council, David Goddard, also blasted the proposals. He said: "This is the latest in a series of mix-ups from the supporters of this project. It's not properly thought through.

"People should look very carefully at the series of disasters involved in this transport innovation before they cast their vote."

Cllr Les Jones, Conservative Group Leader said: "Blue Badges have always been allocated to people not vehicles, this is another elementary mistake by the Congestion Charge bosses. It is incredible that this late in the day we learn that yet another part of the Congestion Charge scheme does not add up.

"So far we have seen an unworkable medical discount dumped on the NHS, no discounts for volunteer workers and carers, and now Blue Badge holders will be at the mercy of the Congestion Charge bureaucrats."

Cllr Peter Burns, Leader of the Independent Rate Payers Group said: "This is another example of the errors being discovered, every week. The big worry is that errors in the financing of the scheme will be discovered when we are committed. Then all Council Tax payers, not just Congestion Charge payers, will have to pay for the mistakes."

Stockport councillors are raising the issue at their full Council meeting on Thursday December 4.

Votes are due back by December 11 in the Transport Innovation Fund ballot.

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