Potential charges for blue badge holders

University students and staff could potentially be affected by the possible introduction of a charge for all disabled drivers holding blue badges in the local area. Coventry City Council are considering this charge in the light of reforms to the scheme announced by the Government in February 2011 which has resulted in a spike in administrative costs.

The changes will mean that individual badge holders will now have to pay £10 for their badge. In an interview with _The Coventry Telegraph_, Councillor Clifford explained how “with the extra cost we are facing in issuing these badges, [a charge] is worth exploring”.

The scheme was initially introduced with the intention of improving the accessibility of local amenities, such as town centres and supermarkets, to the disabled community. According to _The Coventry Telegraph_, evidence revealed by the Government suggests that each badge holder saves on average around £300 per annum by having one of these badges. However, the scheme’s potential to benefit across the breadth of the disabled community is now at threat.

Fortunately, campus is unlikely to be touched by this charge, explained Izzy John, the Students’ Union Welfare Officer.

“As far as I know, parking for blue badge holders on-campus will not be affected as campus is private land – obviously if charges were proposed on campus I would very clearly oppose that from the outset.”

Although campus itself will be unaffected, student and staff badge holders heading into Coventry could face this charge. John explained how “it sends a message that might put our disabled students off seeking to live independently off-campus” which stands in contradiction to the scheme’s original aim to encourage independent mobility.

Criticism has been aimed at who is paying and how much. Some individuals have said they would be willing to pay the £10, covering the badge for a year, as the benefits are still worth it. However, the worry is not so much the charge in principle, but the sudden spike in the cost. In light of current economic hardships, £10 could be the difference between some individuals having access to local amenities, whilst others may no longer be able to afford it.

John added how she thought the cost would be resented by people in Coventry “particularly as their benefits and support services are already under severe threat from the government’s austerity measures”.

In light of issues such as this potential new charge, a protest, organised by campaigning group Disabled People Against The Cuts (DPAC), took place on Friday outside the offices of local MP for Warwick and Leamington, Chris White. The protest was inspired by the cuts to the NHS and the restructuring of the welfare state. The DPAC’s website proclaimed how “disabled people should not be used as scapegoats for the financial mistakes of government” and that they “will not sit quietly while they try to take our rights away”.

A number of public meetings up until the beginning of February will give individuals affected the opportunity to voice their opinions and for alternatives to the charge to be discussed.

When questioned about the possibility of alternatives, John said: “Hopefully during the consultation process there will be opportunity to express the desire for alternatives to be investigated – until then these changes should be scrutinised and resisted.”