Councillor Nicholas Bennett has proposed that Bromley Council should introduce parking fees across the Borough for disabled, Blue Badge holders.  He has done this without any consultation with the people it would affect.

Blue Badge holders qualify for the badge through struggling with very serious health issues, particularly lack of mobility.  A fee is charged to the applicant prior to the Badge being sent out.

It is difficult to express how reliant Blue Badge holders are on the freedom to park free in designated areas.  For many people, the only time they go out is when they take their car (or are taken) and rely on being able to park close to their destination.  Blue Badge holders simply do not have the choices enjoyed by able-bodied people to park in the cheapest car parks, or to park outside town and walk in, because they are not mobile. 

I don’t think Councillor Bennett- who compares paying a parking fee to buying a cup of tea - has considered that if someone like my daughter needs to visit a few places in a town, they might have to park in 2 or 3 different places and pay 2 or 3 different charges if his proposal is approved, unlike able-bodied people who would be able to walk between locations.  This would mean that Blue Badge users would end up paying more in parking costs than able-bodied people.

Mr. Bennett states that, 'The decision to charge for Blue Badge parking is subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) and will only be approved if compliant with the EIA.'  I would argue that his proposal can surely not be compliant with an EIA for the reasons I have outlined above.  

I am shocked and disappointed that this cruel policy, which targets the most vulnerable members of our society, has been proposed and would urge Councillor Bennett and the Councillors who supported it to reconsider and withdraw it.

Please sign my petition. Thank you.