Speaking in the Senedd this week, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood moved an amendment to annul the introduction of temporary Blue Badges for parking because the Welsh Government’s proposed amendment regulations “don’t go nearly far enough” and still disable too many people.
Age Cymru told Mr Isherwood that ‘we agree with you that there should be flexibility around the period for which the temporary badges are issued, and we deem that the duration of the Badge in such circumstances should be based on the recovery time of the applicant’ and Disability Wales ‘that Blue Badges should ideally have a more person centred time limit to reflect individual impairment, rather than a one size fits all period of 1 year’.
Mr Isherwood has long been calling for temporary blue badges, after receiving correspondence from constituents over the years who have had temporary impairments, requiring them to depend upon a wheelchair or a walking stick for a limited period, because of an accident, operation or occasionally other factors.
Temporary blue badges are due to be introduced later this year after the regulations were laid by the Welsh Government in March 2016. They will be made available to people with temporary impairments that last more than twelve months but aren’t permanent, such as complex leg fractures, strokes and spinal trauma.
Mr Isherwood said that the proposed amendment regulations are a step in the right direction, but is concerned they would rule out constituents who only had limited mobility for a shorter period.
He added: “This is in breach of the Welsh Government’s publicly stated commitments to person-centred support, to independent living and to the social model of disability.
“I welcome the fact that the Business Minister rang me last week to clarify my purpose behind bringing forward this motion today. And I explained because it didn’t go far enough, not because we wish to undo and remove the opportunity to bring in temporary blue badges. The Minister proposed that perhaps I could consider instead a Statement being provided in the Assembly, and I explained it’s not binding on the Government. But I said if the Minister was able to come back to me with a proposal that would enable us going forward on this within this Assembly term, I’d be pleased to perhaps consider that and talk that through with her with a view, possibly, to removing today’s motion. Well, I heard nothing, and therefore I’ve gone ahead with the motion as proposed.
“As I say, these amendment regulations represent progress, but they don’t go far enough because they still disable too many people. I therefore call on the Welsh Government to temporarily defer the introduction of these regulations in order to bring in the flexibility being called for by so much of the sector and people affected.”
The motion was voted against.
Mr Isherwood added: “Instead of playing party politics, Plaid Cymru could have backed disabled people by forcing the Labour Welsh Government’s hand.”