A LUDLOW nurse and councillor believes that disabled people are being unfairly denied blue parking badges.

Tracey Huffer, Lib Dem county councillor for Ludlow East, is to have talks with the officers who administer the county’s blue badge disabled permit scheme following a number of complaints from Ludlow residents.

“Ludlow has a high proportion of elderly residents who qualify for the scheme because of mobility difficulties,” she said.

“However the badge needs renewing every few years and this is where the problems have arisen.

“I’ve had a number of complaints on the methodology now used by a number of assessors, who only check an applicant’s mobility on level ground and not on slopes.

“As I nurse, I know there are a great many elderly people who can walk on level ground but have big problems with slopes.

“As Ludlow is so hilly, they need these badges to be able to access shops and services. Following a number of incidents where individuals have been turned down because they can walk on the flat, I will be speaking to the people who run the blue badge scheme via the council and will seek clarity on how assessment is undertaken.

“There certainly seems to be a questions that need to be asked about the fairness of the system with genuine cases finding it difficult to get a badge.”

She wants to hear from anyone who believes that they have unfairly been denied a blue badge.

Contact her on 01584 891215.