Worksop: Double amputee in blue badge parking row

Tim Griffith, 57, of Powell Gardens, Gateford, lost both legs 26 years ago in an horrific road accident while in the Army.

For the last 20 years Mr Griffith has been back on the road driving his car.

And he has used a disabled parking permit - or ‘blue badge’ to help him park closer to wherever he needs to be.

But when Mr Griffith recently went along to the Queen’s Buildings to renew his permit, he was told that the procedure had changed.

“Previously I just went up to the council offices to get it renewed and I would have a new badge within three or four days,” he said.

“I was told there had been a change to the renewal system and instead of the local council issuing the badge it was now done by central government.”

“They said I would need to get a new letter from the Department for Works and Pensions to confirm I am entitled.”

“My last letter dates back 20 years and says I am entitled to a disabled badge. And as I pointed out, my situation has not changed - my legs have not re-grown and are unlikely to do so in the future.”

“The DWP insisted I would need a new letter and that, unfortunately, there would be a delay of six to eight weeks, leaving me without a badge.”

“I was perfectly willing to run the risk of getting a parking ticket - it would have been through no fault of my own.”

Luckily it didn’t come to that, as Mr Griffith was away on holiday for much of the time while his new permit was being processed.

He said: “Some progressive councils like Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds, who know there is going to be a delay getting the new permit, have given people a six week extension on their permits. Why can’t Notts County Council have the foresight to do the same?”

Mr Griffith said it was not the possibility of getting a parking fine that angered him, but the principle that people were not properly informed of the changes.

Mr Griffith has now received his new blue badge.

Notts County Council said it received his application on 21st August, requested his blue badge from the national supplier on 23rd August and it was sent out on 29th August.

The authority said people could renew their badge as early as eight weeks before their current one runs out.

It also said that parking wardens used a two week discretion period if they spotted an expired disabled badge being used.