by Nathan Rao

A disabled pensioner says he may end up housebound because he does not “meet the criteria” for a disabled parking bay outside his home.
Great grandfather-of-four Edmund Price has been told although he owns a car, he can not have the bay because his carer is the registered driver.
Mr Price has not held a driving licence since he turned 70 three years ago but relies on his carer to take him shopping and to get him out of the house.
The 73-year-old, of High Street, Eastchurch, says since a car accident four years ago he has fits and is unable to walk without crutches.
He says the High Street is always parked up and the only place for his carer to park is a
15-minute walk away.
He said he struggles to walk this far to the car so applied to Swale Borough Council four weeks ago for a parking bay outside his house.
But a fortnight later Mr Price says he was horrified to receive a telephone call from the council saying he was not allowed one because, although he was disabled, he was not a driver.
“It is ridiculous,” he said.
“It is getting more difficult for me to walk to the car.
“We often don’t go out because you never know if when you come back there is going to be any parking spaces.
“It seems very unfair to be told as a disabled person, with a badge, I am not able to get a disabled parking bay because I am not a driver, it doesn’t make sense when I rely on a car to get to the shops.”
Brett O’Connell, assistant engineer at the council, said Mr Price did not reach “certain criteria” but could appeal the council’s decision.