Regarding the letter in the Wimbledon Guardian on January 17 from J Anderson of Graham Road, SW19, concerning disabled driver's benefits.

Thank you Mrs Anderson for your letter, very aptly put. I too am disabled with permanent spinal disabilities as well as asthma, thyroid condition, and various other disabilities that I need not list all here.

The point is that, like Mrs Anderson, I'd happily swap my blue badge for good health in a shot.

What I wouldn't be stupid enough to do is to do a deal with my neighbours/friends to use my badge as I need it too much for me, especially as I'm a student at university where I study criminology and forensic science.

Blue badge holders do not automatically have a "get out of jail free card". If we do not display our badge or park in the wrong place, we get tickets like anyone else and no we do not win on appeals without valid reasons.

My badge had flown out my car with a gust of wind one day, and I got a ticket.

Fortunately I found my badge halfway up the road but I did not win my appeal due to this.

What should also be pointed out is that when you are disabled you may need to stop in an emergency more often due to your conditions. When we go to hospitals it is not always possible to get parking spots and we may need to park elsewhere.

What I cannot understand is why healthy drivers are so bitter and resentful about disabled people getting a break in life. As Mrs Anderson rightly points out, whoever believes that disabled drivers should be paying was too cowardly to mention their name or address, thus rendering their information as suspect.

As for these disabled drivers being able to run across the road, they may have disabilities that do not affect their mobility but nonetheless still a medically registered disability. I can assure him that any claims for DLA/Blue Badge are thoroughly investigated.

He/she sounds like a very bitter, selfish person to resent disabled people a little bit of help.

C URQUHART, Streatham