Highland woman wants "unethical" blue badge renewal fee scrapped

A Kirkhill woman's calling for the re-application fee for the blue badge in Scotland to be abolished.

Danielle Morrall says the renewal fee for the car parking assistance card is "unethical and unfair."

She's a carer for her brother Bradley, who has cerebral palsy, and feels those with a life long disability shouldn't have to re-apply every three years.

Danielle's petition on the issue launched earlier this month and already has more than 4,000 signatures.

Renewal fee unfair for those who are disabled for life

In Scotland, the fee can be up to £20 depending on which local authority you live in.

It's currently up to £10 in England and free in Wales.

Across the Highlands, where the fee is £20, 9,632 people currently own a blue badge.

This is up from 9,568 last year, but lower compared to figures from 2019 (10,164) and 2018 (9,811).

Danielle explains why she wants to raise the issue nationally.

She said: "I don’t know why anyone with a lifelong disability should have to renew this every three years and pay a fee for having a little bit of assistance for mobility issues when using a vehicle.

"Even the fact you have to re- apply every three years seems unfair to me when a drivers license is ten years and a passport is ten years.

"To have to do this every three years and pay a fee is quite unethical and unfair to people with disabilities

"A lot of people have said to me ‘you get free parking and you get bigger spaces.’

"It’s not about free parking, it’s about getting a bit of assistance for people who have disabilities.

"The initial charge, I appreciate absolutely there’s admin charges involved in these things and somebody’s got to supply the blue badge.

"Even if the initial charge was there, it's the reapplication fee that's key here.

"It’s very unethical to keep having to re-apply for this and pay for it when you’re disabled for life."

Highland Council have outlined their official protocol for petitions.

A spokesperson said: "The Highland Council has a petitions procedure, details of which and how to petition the Council are on our website at www.highland.gov.uk."

Danielle's petition on matter can be viewed here