Labour Assembly Member for Wrexham Lesley Griffiths believes Wales is the best place in the UK to be a disabled ‘Blue Badge’ parking scheme participant, following launch of a new improved scheme.
The new ‘Blue Badge’ parking scheme, launched this week by Local Government and Communities Minister Carl Sergeant will make it harder for the badges to forge or use fraudulently. The new Badge features an improved design which renders it highly difficult to forge meaning more genuine disabled persons can access the parking allocated to them.
Improvements include linking the badges of eligible badge-holders to a national database, which can make spotting parking imposters easier for enforcement officers.
This will make it more difficult for able bodied people to park in disabled spaces, preventing them from causing inconvenience and pain to disabled drivers.
In addition, following a consultation on charges to Blue Badges, the Welsh Government decided to issue them free of charge to those eligible, making them accessible to the most vulnerable.
The move means Wales is to become the only place in the UK where Blue Badges are free, with charges in place in England and Scotland of up to £20 per badge.
Welcoming the move, Lesley Griffiths said:
“Many people living with disabilities have special access requirements which mean the Blue Badge parking scheme can be a real lifeline.
“Unfortunately, under the old badge system, some took it upon themselves to falsely pose as disabled, at the expense of those really in need. With this new scheme, the Welsh Government is aiming to stamp this out fully.
“In addition, applying for the new badges is free in Wales. Wales is the only nation in the UK where this is currently the case. We can now boast one of the most secure and most affordable disabled parking schemes in the UK.
“This is great news for disabled people who rely upon motorised transport and I am pleased to see the Welsh Labour Government standing up for them with this new scheme.”
In Wales there are around 230,000 blue badges in use. An official UK Government report estimated fraudulent or improper use of these badges also costs the UK a total of £46million a year in parking fee evasion.
