North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd Cross Party Group on Disability, Mark Isherwood, has made fresh calls today for the Welsh Government to better serve disabled individuals and carers across Wales by changing the current Blue Badge Parking Permit Scheme in Wales.
Mr Isherwood has long been highlighting in the Senedd the problems disabled residents in North Wales are experiencing in applying for and retaining Blue Badges, and calling for action to address them.
Raising the matter in the Senedd again today with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS, he said:
“Earlier this month, in his latest response to my correspondence on behalf of a constituent regarding the Blue Badge scheme, the Transport Secretary explained, once again, that Local Authorities administer the scheme using guidance and a toolkit issued by the Welsh Government.
“However, it is inconsistent top-down, Local Authority interpretation of this guidance that leads repeatedly to disabled applicants being denied a new or renewed Blue Badge.
“The Welsh Government's continued refusal to deliver a Life Award for those with lifelong non-improving conditions defies logic and challenges the Welsh Government's claim to champion the Social Model of Disability.
“What action will you therefore take to ensure that proper attention is given to the findings from the Stakeholder Survey conducted this summer by STAND North Wales CIC, which received 636 responses from 20 counties in Wales in just 25 days, and which found, and I quote, 'The current Blue Badge system in Wales creates barriers rather than removing them, contradicting the goals of disability rights legislation', and recommended changes, including a Life Award, to ‘better serve disabled individuals and carers across Wales and fulfil the Welsh Government's legal and moral responsibilities’. I'd be grateful to hear whether you will give that attention.”
In her response, the Cabinet Secretary said that the Welsh Government accepted all the recommendations from the internal research programme's review of the Blue Badge scheme in Wales, which was published on 21st May.
She added:
“The review aimed to assess the robustness of the scheme and explore whether eligibility criteria could be extended, particularly for individuals with lifelong conditions. The crucial point, I think, as you will know, is that the Cabinet Secretary has convened an expert group, working in partnership with local authorities and the Welsh Local Government Association, to explore all options to better share data and cut down the burden facing people with a real need for the accessible parking that the blue badge can bring.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“For many disabled adults and children, and their families, having a Blue-Badge Parking Permit is key to accessing services and facilities in town centres and maximising their independence. If the Cabinet Secretary wants to ‘explore all options’ with the real experts, he should therefore do what STAND North Wales CIC have done - and ask them.”
