No Visible Disability? Not Much Blue Badge Chance in Surrey

Published on: 7 Jan, 2021
Updated on: 9 Jan, 2021

By Martin Giles

Surrey has the UK’s second-highest refusal rate of Blue Badge parking badges for applicants with non-visible disabilities.

For the 12 months after August 30, 2019, 1,063 applications were allowed from those suffering “hidden disabilities” but only 274 were approved, a 65% refusal rate. Only Nottinghamshire had a greater rate with 69%, shows data compiled by the BBC.

Overall in Surrey, just more than 90% of the 16,997 applications were granted, revealing the large discrepancy in the approval rate for visible and hidden disabilities.

But the situation is improving, a county council spokesman claimed. “We understand how important a Blue Badge can be to a disabled person,” he said. “Having one means they can park closer to their destination to access essential goods, services, and other facilities.

“Between January 1 and December 31, 2020, we issued more than 4,300 disabled parking badges to Surrey residents. Of applicants who applied under the non-visible disability criteria 52% were successful.

“Each Blue Badge application is assessed on its own merits, based on the supporting information provided by the applicant and in line with the eligibility criteria set out by the Department for Transport [DfT].

“Our assessment process is based on best practice and we use independent, medically qualified expert assessors to inform our decision-making where required and particularly in complex cases involving non-visible disabilities.

“A diagnosed medical condition in itself does not make someone eligible for a Blue Badge; the condition must impact their mobility and overall ability to undertake journeys to such an extent that they meet the eligibility criteria set out by the DfT.

“Since the legislation expanding the eligibility criteria came into effect on August 30, 2019, we have worked to raise awareness among Surrey residents about the Blue Badge process for those applying under the non-visible disability criteria, in particular the supporting information that needs to be supplied.”

Nationally, of the 216 councils asked by the BBC, 109 were able to provide a breakdown of how they handled Blue Badge applications for physical impairments and for applicants with non-visible disabilities.

Of the 109, 92 councils had higher approval rates for physical impairment applicants.

For 10 councils, including Surrey, the approval rate was more than 50 percentage points higher for physical impairment applications.

The Blue Badge permit scheme was extended a year ago to include people with non-visible disabilities such as autism, dementia and anxiety.

The DfT said it would review the impact of the new criteria.

The National Autistic Society said the BBC’s analysis revealed how important it was for councils to improve staff training to ensure they understood when people should be entitled to a “lifeline” Blue Badge parking permit.

Tim Nicholls, from the National Autistic Society, said a badge could help journeys with a carer for someone with autism who may not be able to understand or react to the dangers of the road.

The permit could also help someone with autism overcome their anxiety over not finding a parking space or things going wrong on a trip, which could stop them from leaving the house entirely, he said.

People who had applied online also told us of the “trauma” of having to produce evidence of their disabilities to be scrutinised, and the difficulty of completing the form.

They also spoke of their reluctance to send original personal identity documents such as birth certificates in the post.

The removal of accessible parking bays next to shops and amenities “overnight, without any consultation” to allow for social distancing during the pandemic had also had a “massive impact” on disabled people, the disability equality charity Scope said.

James Taylor, their executive director of strategy impact and social change, added: “This new data shows a shocking disparity between the allocations of Blue Badges to people with invisible and visible impairments.

“Our helpline has also heard from disabled people with hidden impairments being denied a Blue Badge, for ‘not qualifying’.

“This research highlights the urgent need for staff training of the decision-makers in the councils, so they can recognise and understand the range of hidden impairment. Councils need also to understand the devastating impact their negative decision can have.”

Cllr David Renard, Transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils’ interests, said: “Councils want to make sure local services and communities are as accessible as possible and they work closely with health professionals to ensure fair and robust criteria are used in the allocation of Blue Badges to local residents, including those with non-visible disabilities.

“Councils also have to try to strike a balance when making changes to their communities and places to ensure there are parking spaces available for everyone at all times of the day and we can keep traffic moving.

“With 10 million more cars on the road in the past 20 years, an increase of a third, this has become increasingly challenging for them.”

Surrey County Council did not provide data to the BBC on the number of Blue Badge parking spaces in the county.

DfT guidance states that 5% of street parking be designated for Blue Badge holders.  For car parks, the recommended level varies according to the main use of the car park and its size, but is between 2% and 6% of total capacity.

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