Monday, 14 February 2011

Blue badge drivers face new medical tests

Disabled drivers face tough new medical tests before they can get Blue Badges for parking, in a Government clampdown on abuse of the scheme.
Around 2.5 million people currently pay councils in England and Wales for the badges, which allow free parking in pay-and-display bays, at meters and even on single- and double-yellow lines.

However, ministers estimate that around half of the users are not really entitled to the badges - and the fraud costs town halls millions of pounds a year in lost parking fees and fines.
Under the Government's plans, to be announced within days, councils will be given additional powers to impose checks on applicants similar to those undergone by people claiming disability benefits.
At the same time, ministers will announce an increase in the price of a badge from £2 to £10. The price rise for the badges, which last up to three years, is the first since 1983.
Source: The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8320554/Blue-badge-drivers-face-new-medical-tests.html


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