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Motoring news

Government pledges £55 million Blue Badge overhaul

21/10/2008

Up to £55 million will be spent on ensuring that disabled parking meets the needs of the 21st Century, the Government has said.

Announcing a review of the Blue Badge parking scheme, which grants parking concessions to motorists and passengers with severe mobility problems, transport minister Paul Clark said that it was "time to get tough and stop Blue Badge abuse".

Outlining the scope of misuse of the system, he explained that around one in 200 badges are reported as stolen each year, with badges selling on the black market for up to £1,500 each.

The review follows a recent Department for Transport consultation on the scheme, in which nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents suggested that councils be given the power to confiscate stolen or forged badges.

In a statement, Mr Clark said that such powers would be "examined", and that up to £10 million would be provided to help local authorities, who administer the scheme, to reduce fraud through improved data sharing.

"I want to ensure that the maximum number of people, who have a genuinely severe disability, can benefit from the scheme," Mr Clark said.

Mobility campaigners have welcomed the review. Helen Smith, director of policy and campaigns at Mobilise, said: "Mobilise has been campaigning for a review of the Blue Badge scheme for many years and so we welcome this announcement of the new Blue Badge strategy.

"Only by ensuring that people meeting the qualifying criteria are issued with badges and abuse of the scheme is taken very seriously will the scheme work again as it was intended."