More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A leukaemia sufferer with a tumour and heart problems was left “gobsmacked” when his blue badge application was refused - despite him needing a stairlift and mobility scooter.
Martin White, 79, applied online for the parking permit in November 2023, after his cancer coordinator suggested he obtain one.
But after getting confirmation his application had been received, the former driving instructor heard nothing for 19 weeks.
Kent County Council’s website says it can take up to four months (17 weeks) for applications to be processed.
The dad-of-two later eventually received another email with three more pages of questions.
But just three hours after filling it in and responding, he was rejected.
The Larkfield resident said the conclusion he was given was that he wouldn’t be disabled in three years’ time.
He said: “I was gobsmacked, I didn’t know what to say.”
He is one of many other cancer patients being denied a blue badge because their conditions don’t meet the criteria as they are seen as relatively short-term.
Their cases come as data from a Freedom of Information request reveals a sharp increase in the number of blue badge applications being refused.
From 2021 to 2022, 28,680 were issued with 1,477 refusals. Meanwhile, in 2022 to 2024, 34,184 badges were issued with 2,145 being refused.
Although, in 2023 to 2024 the number of blue badges being issued declined, the number of refusals has continued to grow, with 3,314 applications having their application turned down.
At the time of Martin’s refusal, he was applying to The Freemasons’ Grand Charity for funds for a mobility scooter.
The charity sent a representative to help him complete the forms needed and as soon as he stepped in the door, he said: “You need a stairlift as well.”
As a result, he was able to obtain one and a scooter but still had no blue badge for his car.
The charity appealed KCC’s refusal on Martin’s behalf in May last year.
After this, he was contacted by a worker who said they would review the appeal within a week.
“10 minutes later, I had a blue badge,” Martin said.
Despite this change of outcome, there had been no change to his diagnosis between the original application and his appeal application.
He said: “I’ve still got heart problems, still got leukaemia, still got an enlarged prostate and I’ve still got a tumour on my pituitary gland which closes my right eye.
“I take about 15 or 16 different tablets that I have to take. Just by having a blue badge I can park and pick all my prescriptions up quickly and easily.”
Martin believes the lack of conversation or in-person interaction by those assessing his eligibility makes the process to obtain a permit more difficult.
He said: “No conversation goes on, you fill a form in. If they were to talk to you, they could ask the relevant questions.”
The grandfather said: “I’m on chemo for the rest of my life, and alright, it’s not a harsh chemo that sort of knocks people out for days, but certainly twice a day with all the other tablets does take it out of you. It’s not easy.”
Martin suffers with Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a rare type of cancer which affects the blood and bone marrow.
He added: “There’s no cure for it, so they just bring the white blood cells down as low as possible.”
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “Martin was awarded a blue badge to May 2027 as soon as we received the medical details needed to show he met the government’s strict criteria for the permit.
“Nationally and locally blue badge applications continue to rise and last year alone in Kent we received almost 44,000 – a record.
“We have to assess everyone against Department for Transport (DfT) guidance and urge anyone applying to give as much information as possible about their situation to ensure there aren’t avoidable delays in the assessment process – or that someone with genuine mobility issues has their request rejected.”
Do you think you have also been unfairly treated by the blue badge rules? Get in contact with Elli Hodgson by emailing ehodgson@thekmgroup.co.uk
