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  • "
    Binsanity wrote:
    Hove Ex-pat says. Where in this article does it state Roy fell over in the street or getting of a bus. He "drives" which is the blue badge issue and the one we are discussing. Please keep up and try not to encourage people to bend the law.
    I did not say he had in the past. But when he has bad days in the furure, he will need to document them to prove that he needs his badge. Come on nobody in his condition & at his age will improve. And at no point did I suggest he breaks the law. So now who is adding things?"
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81-year-old Worcester Park man has parking badge taken off him after not meeting criteria

11:07am Thursday 30th August 2012 in News By James Pepper

War hero stripped of blue badge after walking too well War hero stripped of blue badge after walking too well

A war veteran who needs two sticks to aid his walking has had his Blue Badge for disabled drivers taken away.

Roy Hamilton, 81, who received a medal for his bravery during the Suez crisis in 1956, has had a disabled blue badge for five years and regularly complains of having no feeling below his knees.

Despite this, and the fact he uses two walking sticks, at his most recent meeting with Sutton Council officials said he no longer needed the badge, which allows him to park in specific bays, because he walked well.

Mr Hamilton said: "I have a numbness in my legs which means I keep falling over, because I can't feel anything I always cut and bruise them and I don't realise. How they can say I don't need a blue badge, I just don't know."

After being invited to the council offices, Mr Hamilton was told to walk a small distance with the assistance of his walking sticks to demonstrate how badly he needed his parking badge.

But after completing the test without falling over, Mr Hamilton was later informed by post that he no longer qualified for a blue badge.

He said: "I have a 100 year old sister who I take out quite a lot and I need that blue badge to get parked up. Without it, we will not be able to get out as much."

A council spokesman said: "Mr Hamilton did not meet the mobility criteria for a Blue Badge, his case has been reviewed by The Occupational Therapy Team Manager who has written to Mr Hamilton explaining the decision not to award a badge but also explaining he can reapply if his mobility deteriorates substantially.

"It is always difficult for applicants when a scheme such as Blue Badges changes. In Sutton we want to ensure that people who meet the criteria do get a Blue Badge."

In January 2012 issuing of Blue Badges changed to a national scheme, with councils having to follow national guidelines.

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