Northam Resident Struggles for Blue Badge Amid Parking Crisis in Devon

A Northam resident is highlighting the difficulties faced by people in Devon when trying to secure Blue Badges, as parking accessibility continues to be a pressing issue in the area.

Carole Poulton, from Burrington, has shared the ongoing struggles of a close friend who has been trying to obtain a Blue Badge for over two years. Living on a street with double yellow lines and no nearby parking, her friend, who relies on a walking stick for mobility, finds it exhausting to make repeated trips back and forth to her car.

Recently, after a long day of shopping, the woman parked outside her home temporarily to unload groceries—only to be met with a parking ticket from a traffic warden. Though she managed to successfully appeal the fine, the experience left her in significant pain and emotional distress.

Carole believes that having a Blue Badge would have prevented this situation, enabling her friend to park closer to her home without fear of penalties. Despite her evident mobility challenges, the woman’s applications have been rejected twice.

In an effort to assist, Carole contacted Age UK, who advised reaching out to their Devon branch for support with a new application. However, upon doing so, Carole discovered that assessors are reportedly under pressure to deny all but the most severely disabled applicants due to the limited availability of suitable parking spaces in the area.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council responded: “We cannot comment on individual cases. The council administers the Blue Badge scheme on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) and local authorities must adhere to the core principles outlined in the DfT’s Blue Badge scheme guidance.”

The spokesperson added, “Eligibility for the Blue Badge is not solely determined by any specific diagnosis or condition. To qualify, the applicant must have a substantial disability expected to last at least three years at the time of assessment.”

The council has stated that applicants who are denied a badge are provided guidance on the appeals process and encouraged to reapply if their mobility deteriorates, provided additional medical evidence is submitted.

The case has sparked debate over Blue Badge eligibility criteria and the challenges faced by individuals with less visible disabilities in accessing essential parking resources.