Compromise for Central Beds community transport groups denied Blue Badges under government guidelines

Groups such as South Beds Dial-a-Ride and Buzzer Buses risk parking fines when their support work necessitates parking on double yellow lines, if a passenger has forgotten their individual Blue Badge.

A motion was prepared for a full Central Bedfordshire Council meeting by Independent Leighton Linslade West councillor Steve Owen asking its executive to reissue Blue Badges to these local transport operators.

Time prevented the motion being considered, but the topic was debated during the public session. Leighton-Linslade town councillor Jane Gibson spoke in support of councillor Owen’s motion, saying: “Ordinary cars aren’t designed for wheelchair users.

“Why should disabled people have to rely on family and friends to get about? Don’t deny them their independence.

“We could lose this important service if they (transport providers) incur penalties for parking without a Blue Badge because the individual forgot their badge.

“Buzzer Buses Limited (in Leighton Buzzard) has had Blue Badges for nearly ten years. It’s not misused them in that time.

“These are charity organisations designed to transport disabled people. The drivers are trained to park safely.”

South Beds Dial-a-Ride has provided a service for 39 years using organisational Blue Badges, according to trustee and vice-chairman Gloria Martin.

“It provides a specialised door-to-door service to help anyone with mobility issues,” she explained.

“Only issuing transport organisational Blue Badges where there is also care provided would disqualify the three dial-a-ride schemes run by independent charities in this county, all of which you financially support.

“We rely on these Blue Badges, which are key to our services. Not issuing an organisational Blue Badge is an appalling, unsympathetic decision, which shows a clear lack of support for those outside your care and many within it.

“We care by using drivers with enhanced DBS checks, specialised passenger assistance skills, minibus training and dementia awareness, and by reporting safeguarding issues.

“We’re only talking about a dozen organisational Blue Badges. Although we encourage passengers to carry their own badge, not all of them do.”

Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker replied by acknowledging the “valuable work by all the community transport groups”, and telling the council: “This is a difficult issue for us to solve.

“CBC is part of the Blue Badge local authority peer forum, which discusses such matters,” he said. “The Department for Transport (DfT) decided that issuing Blue Badges to community groups not connected to the care sector or involved in caring for an individual must end.

“That started the process of Blue Badges being allowed to lapse when they expired. Officers have been interpreting the DfT regulations correctly.

“An organisational Blue Badge must pass the care test, but a passenger’s own one can still be used. CBC isn’t allowed to provide them for some of its transport, as that’s what the officers have been told by the government.

“At the recent executive committee, I confirmed officers had organised a meeting with South Beds Dial-a-Ride and Buzzer Buses to understand any problems, and to offer support and advice.

“If organisations provide registration plate details to CBC, the civil enforcement officers will allow a longer grace period for a vehicle parked on double yellow lines assisting a disabled person for the picking up and dropping off purpose.

“No evidence has been provided by councillors to suggest CBC has been doing anything wrong. If we handed out Blue Badges to community groups, what would stop the same argument being made by taxi businesses or other transport organisations?

“The council can’t make a rule for one and not apply it to all,” added executive member for finance and highways councillor Baker. “Officers follow clear government guidance every day.

“Directors look into these matters carefully to ensure the council is acting in accordance with the law. I’m satisfied this has happened in this case.”