Blue badge eligibility extended in Blaenau Gwent

9:10am Sunday 6th January 2013 in Gwent news

Blue badge eligibility extended in Blaenau Gwent Blue badge eligibility extended in Blaenau Gwent

PEOPLE in Blaenau Gwent with severe cognitive impairments such as autism are to be entitled to a blue badge for the first time due to a new Welsh Government initiative.

Blue badge eligibility is to be extended to individuals who cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. This includes people with cognitive and sensory impairments. People who can stand and move but for no more than 50 metres will also be eligible.

In Wales there are around 230,000 Blue Badges in use and 2.5 million across the UK. The new extension will come into place on April 1 2013 Alun Davies AM welcomed the announcement by the Minister responsible for transport, Carl Sargeant, following proposed changes in the UK welfare benefits system.

He said: "Once again Welsh Labour is showing it is standing up for the vulnerable across Wales and giving support to those who need it most.

"People with severe cognitive impairments deserve to be entitled to the blue badge and it will really help them overcome barriers they face with work or simply accessing facilities such as shops or the bank."

Comments(10)

Dai Rear says...
10:11am Sun 6 Jan 13

So people like my late father who had both hips replaced and was unable to walk more than a few yards will find themselves crowded out (there not being an infinite supply of places near the shops) by people who can walk miles. In fact I walked 9 miles yesterday but have quite bad tinnitus.So do I qualify?
"Once again Welsh Labour is showing it is standing up for the vulnerable across Wales and giving support to those who need it most" "Vote for us you illiterate innumerate nobodies. Ve are ze FUTURE".

Report this post »

JoJoJoJo says...
11:47am Sun 6 Jan 13

I'm so pleased some consideration is being given to adults with Autism. There seems to be so much support for children yet very little for adults. Being able to park within sight of whichever shop, office or bank may be the difference between success and failure for an Autistic adult.
As far as I am concerend this is a breakthrough. Well done Blaenau Gwent.

Report this post »

Dai Rear says...
12:01pm Sun 6 Jan 13

JoJoJoJo wrote:
I'm so pleased some consideration is being given to adults with Autism. There seems to be so much support for children yet very little for adults. Being able to park within sight of whichever shop, office or bank may be the difference between success and failure for an Autistic adult.
As far as I am concerend this is a breakthrough. Well done Blaenau Gwent.
Thank you Councillor. I don't think you need worry anyway. BG is a Rotten Borough and its population would vote for a t*rd in newspaper provided it had a red and yellow badge.

Report this post »

Howie' says...
2:11pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Never fails to amaze me that people can get so upset because someone else gets a blue badge or disability benefits and I would bet that the same healthy people would not trade places with a disabled person.

In America they have just added another 35 conditions that will fast track the process to get disability benefits.

I suppose that's Obama looking to buy votes eh, Dai....oops, forgot he can only have two terms.

http://www.ardmoreit
e.com/article/201301
04/NEWS/130109880/10
01/NEWS

Funny thing is Dai, if you were unfortunate enough (and I hope it does not happen) to have a debilitating illness you would be the first in the queue for benefits, as would I Dai, but I have never begrudged the disabled having help.

Report this post »

Dai Rear says...
4:51pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Howie' wrote:
Never fails to amaze me that people can get so upset because someone else gets a blue badge or disability benefits and I would bet that the same healthy people would not trade places with a disabled person.

In America they have just added another 35 conditions that will fast track the process to get disability benefits.

I suppose that's Obama looking to buy votes eh, Dai....oops, forgot he can only have two terms.

http://www.ardmoreit

e.com/article/201301

04/NEWS/130109880/10

01/NEWS

Funny thing is Dai, if you were unfortunate enough (and I hope it does not happen) to have a debilitating illness you would be the first in the queue for benefits, as would I Dai, but I have never begrudged the disabled having help.
If you think that it should be made more difficult for physically handicapped people to park near such shops as there are in Blaenau Gwent , then that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. If you think I would waste time filling in forms for ESA when my "unearned" (as you socialists like to call it) income already puts me in the Higher Rate Tax bracket even if I never went to work, then you misunderestimate (lovely word; thank you George Dubwa) my bureaucracy threshold. I did indeed have a severe mental illness some years ago and I can say without fear of contradiction that all the blue badges in the world would not have made it better, nor did I feel it entitled me to park on double yellow lines.I have to yield to your superior knowledge of the workings of Mr Obama's mind. but I believe most Americans find him unfathomable.

Report this post »

Howie' says...
7:17pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Thanks for the reply, Dai. Not quite sure what you were meant but thanks anyway.

Report this post »

Dai Rear says...
8:06am Mon 7 Jan 13

What I "was meant" is that the Blue Badge scheme enables physically disabled people to park, or be taken, to near shops, libraries, surgeries etc and is irrelevant to those not physically disabled. Quite a simple thought isn't it?
In passing I said that I was not as keen as you appear to be to pick up a welfare cheque. I then acknowledged your expertise on the President of the USA . In my ignorance I thought he wanted to increase federal spending and borrowing till the country was destroyed, like Blairbrown destroyed our economy, but you know him better than I. OK now?

Report this post »

Dai Rear says...
8:13am Mon 7 Jan 13

What "you were meant" was that the excellent Blue Badge scheme enables physically handicapped people to park their cars or be taken close to shops, libraries, surgeries. That is irrelevant for the able-bodied. Since places near these resources are in short supply permitting the able - bodied to use them will prejudice physically disabled persons.
In passing I observed that I was not as anxious as you for a welfare cheque and that President Obama seemed to me , in my ignorance, to be hellbent on destroying his government by federal overspending and borrowing, like Blairbrown did to us, but I yielded to you in your knowledge of him. OK now?

Report this post »

Howie' says...
11:03am Mon 7 Jan 13

Thanks Dai! OK Now.

Report this post »

Dave on his Soapbox says...
6:49pm Mon 7 Jan 13

.... the simple solution would be to have two coloured badges......and parking bays....oe colour used for those immediately outside shops for those with walking difficulties....and those spaces which are slightly further away...with both that allow the parking on double yellow lines etc.
as all cards are being replaced with the new style ones...it could be implemented quite easily....with the blue (European) ones for the physically disabled and the other used for the lesser disabled.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree