The Government is changing the Blue Car Badge parking scheme to make it fairer and more consistent. We wanted to hear what users of the scheme, and carers for people who use the scheme, thought of our proposals.
Who could take part?
We asked for the views of those who:
- are a Blue Car Badge user
- are a carer of someone who uses a Blue Car Badge
- work with older people or disabled people.
What you told us
655 people took part in the consultation, a response rate of 21%. The majority of respondents have a Blue Car Badge or care for someone who does. Around a third of respondents automatically qualified for their badge.
Over half of respondents are positive about the increased charge or say it won't affect them. Only 7%, or 58 people, say they would be negatively impacted as they are on a tight budget or have a limited income, while 12% are concerned about how others on a tight budget or pensioners will be affected. Of the remaining topic areas, 16% are negative and 14% are general.
Nearly two thirds of respondents strongly agree or agree with our plans to set up mobility clinics. The top concern raised in the comments about mobility clinics was the cost of the new system.
Read the full report with a detailed breakdown of all the responses and who took part:
What happens next?
The Lead Member for Adult Social Care considered a report on the findings on 22 November and gave the go ahead for changes to the scheme:
How much will it cost to apply?
As a result, from January 2012 there will be a £10 charge for a new or renewed Blue Car Badge. This will be for the full three-year period a badge is valid. This is an increase from £2, which has remained unchanged since 1983. At present, the £10 charge will be refunded if someone is not successful in their application.
This charge will cover the cost of the badge, which will now be produced and distributed by a single national central point, following Government changes. Both the badge and the time-indicator which comes with it, will be more robust, made of plastic and in a wallet to help with wear and tear. Councils will still process all applications but will no longer produce the badges.
Mobility assessments
From April 2012 doctors will no longer carry out Blue Car Badge assessments. Instead, all mobility assessments for people who don't automatically qualify will be carried out by our therapy staff. They will be able to make fair and impartial decisions as to whether someone should receive a Blue Car Badge.
Mobility clinics will be run across East Sussex, including in rural areas. We are planning to run the clinics in places like day centres, libraries, doctors' surgeries and established council buildings. In some limited circumstances, therapy staff will be able to offer a home visit.
A mobility assessment will take around 45 minutes. It will include observation of your mobility and questions on your disability, so that therapy staff can decide if you meet the national eligibility criteria set by the Department for Transport.
If you do not automatically qualify for a Blue Car Badge you must have a mobility assessment if you want to apply for a badge.
Background information
The Blue Car Badge scheme allows people with severe mobility problems to park close to where they need to go. Most badges are valid for three years.
You automatically qualify for a Blue Car Badge if you:
- are registered blind under the National Assistance Act 1948
- receive the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
- receive a war pensioner's mobility supplement
- have been awarded a benefit under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, under tariffs 1 to 8.
If none of these apply to you, you may still qualify for a Blue Car Badge by having an assessment of your mobility.
What is the Department of Transport changing nationally?
From January 2012:
- all new Blue Car Badges will be printed and supplied by one company – this will make them harder to forge or alter.
- local authorities will have to pay a production fee for each Blue Car Badge of £4.60 (excluding VAT)
- the Department for Transport plans to increase the maximum fee that local authorities can charge users for their Blue Car Badge from £2 to £10 – this is the first increase since 1983.
From 2012 local authorities will have to use independent mobility assessments to decide if someone who does not automatically qualify should receive a Blue Car Badge. Local authorities will also have more powers to tackle fraudulent use of Blue Car Badges.
How you could take part
You can see an example of our printable questionnaire at the foot of this page.
You could also give us your views using an online form, with a special version compatible with screen readers for the visually impaired. We included some information in an Easy-Read format for those with a learning disability.
There was a shorter 10 week consultation period, rather than the normal 12 weeks. This was because the national changes, around badge production and the cost, apply from January 2012. The shorter consultation ensured that people's views could be fully considered before recommendations were made to the Cabinet member for Adult Social Care.
This consultation closed on 26 October 2011.
Help and enquiries
If you have any questions about this consultation, or need a copy of the information in a different format – such as large print, braille, or in a different language – please contact the Blue Car Badge team:
Phone: 01323 464 244
Email: bluecarbadges@eastsussex.gov.uk
Post:
Blue Badge team
St. Mary's House
52 St. Leonard's Road
Eastbourne BN21 3UU
Help and advice for people with a learning disability
We produce Easy Read information about some surveys, to help people with learning disabilities to get involved. This might be leaflets, flyers or sometimes questionnaires. See below to find out what you could print out.
If you need help to complete a survey form, please ask someone you trust such as a support worker or carer. If you don't have anyone to help you, please call the number above.
East Sussex County Council