Bromley locals have expressed their ‘outrage’ at a scheme from the council to introduce parking charges for Blue Badge holders.
Residents have thrown their support behind a petition opposing the plan with the campaign passing 3,000 signatures.
The new charges were approved in November and will apply to drivers using Blue Badges in council-owned parking spaces across Bromley. Sian Pugh, 59, started the petition following her ‘outrage’ upon learning about the scheme and said she feels it unfairly discriminates disabled people who are unable to walk or use parking spaces far from their destinations.
The mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago and has broken her ankle, arm and finger in the past five years from accidents relating to the condition. However, she said took the new charges even more personally due to the effect they would have on her 27-year-old daughter, Carys.
Ms Pugh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Carys is almost completely reliant on the Blue Badge. She has this connective tissue disorder, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, so she’s in constant pain. Yesterday, I took her for an X-ray on her hip which is really causing her agony at the moment. It’s just awful to see every time she gets up.”
She added: “She can’t walk very far at all or if she does walk, it hurts… You hate it when people do things against your children. This is against my child and will make her life harder. She’s already in loads of pain and it’s just not fair.”
Conservative Councillor Nicholas Bennett, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety, said that a consultation would take place on the scheme in the New Year as part of an equalities impact assessment prior to a final decision being made. He said that drivers with Blue Badges already pay for petrol, oil and servicing and added that Bromley had some of the lowest parking charges in London, ranging from 60p to £1.60 per hour.
Ms Pugh said that disabled people receiving a higher rate of Personal Independence Payments can have their car running costs, excluding petrol, covered through the Motability scheme. She added that she fears disabled individuals will have to pay excessive parking fees in the borough by having to spend multiple hours in parking spaces and sometimes using a variety of different spaces during their journeys due to their reduced mobility.
The mum said: “So often, you just feel that disabled people are the easy option to target. So many people don’t fight back because they can’t. Some are too ill to fight back.”
She added: “Their lives are going to be completely transformed if this is introduced. So many people have said, ‘My life will change, I won’t go out as much’.”
Antony Martin, 84, has lived in Orpington with his wife Patricia, 81, for over 50 years. The couple said their Blue Badge is ‘essential’ to get around given Patricia’s blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa.
Mr Martin told the LDRS: “I visit my brother every day, he’s 93. It’s only a mile and I go there and back in the car. We do his shopping on Thursdays.”
He added: “It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s typical Bromley, they charge you for everything… Unfortunately, we have a Tory council and they are the worst people in the world. They are not generous at all and never have been.”
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they relied on their Blue Badge to avoid painful walking journeys due to their multiple sclerosis. They said they were amazed by the charges and felt Blue Badge holders were often retired people without much money.
Cllr Bennett previously told the LDRS that the Blue Badge scheme already specifically excludes car parks from automatic free parking. He added that he would not pre-empt the outcome of the equalities impact assessment scheduled this new year
The portfolio holder said: “There is no question that Blue Badge holders will not be prioritised, with guidance for on-street parking remaining unchanged, in line with legislation. Some councils do not offer free parking in car parks already and whilst the proposal would see charges in car parks, prioritised parking for badge holders would continue.”
He added: “The council faces a deficit of £60 million by 2028 and will be bankrupt if we do not take urgent action. The car parks have to be maintained and it is right that those who use them should bear the cost rather than the many council taxpayers who cannot afford a car.”
Bromley Council was approached for additional comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.
