to wonder why disabled parking should be free

[Lilaclion]

My local council is considering making blue badge holders pay to park which has caused a certain amount of controversy, but personally I don't see why they shouldn't pay to park just like everybody else? The blue badge parking system is there to ensure an ease of access, it has nothing to do with finances.

The fact that our hospital charges for parking is irrelevent really as there is never a space in the car park anyway, I've seen the waiting time as 45 mins which is ridiculous when you have to make appointments/visiting times.
If I have an appointment for myself I can go on the bus which takes half the day but at least it stops outside and the return journey costs about the same as an hour's parking, which works out quite reasonable as appointments are often longer than an hour what with all the waiting around. Recently when I had to take ds (blue badge holder) to hospital I had to get my stepdad to drop us off and come back later for us because I couldn't guarantee getting near enough to the hospital with the car, and we didn't have the option of the bus or parking further away and walking. The simplest things can get quite complicated when you aren't as mobile as other people and it would be nice to think that people could be supportive instead of making you feel like a nuisance/drain on society.

Tell you what OP and anyone else who begrudges free parking - you can have my free parking as long as you have my disability as well. Seems fair to me!

you can have my free parking as long as you have my disability as well. Seems fair to me!

I actually said something incredibly similar to a guy parked in a bay last week Redhead. He had a posh car and he was all suited n booted and I guessed it was his car so I followed him back to it and asked if he'd forgotten to display his badge. No he hadn't of course, so he got the lecture about me having to park much further up on a busy road with my TWO SLD boys and would he therefore like to have their disability if he wanted that space so much.
He apologised and said he wouldn't do it again!

unpa1dcar3r, what does SLD mean, never heard it before and it's not in the acronyms list?

They are disabled people! Can't believe someone would actually complain about this! What a vile thing to say!
If you can complain about that I can only imagine how much you would complain if you were actually disabled or cared for a loved one that was and had to go though so much everyday. Disabled people are hardly thrilled to bits with the few quid they save in parking.
You are so horrible for saying this. I am really disgusted.

'unpa1dcar3r, what does SLD mean, never heard it before and it's not in the acronyms list?'

It usually stands for Severe Learning Disabilities.

Thanks Goblin.

Was just going to explain Heidi and I see Goblin already has. Thanks Goblin.
I'm not one for achronyms on here- use enough in my real life (or RL!) but that's one i make an exception for cos it's so bloody long!

PS I don't understand most of the achronyms on here either which can be confusing!

My parents both have blue badges.

They've never understood why it's free. For both of them reserved parking that is closer to where they are going is enough. Neither of them have the choice to park further away or walk - my dad is now terminally ill and my mum has reduced mobility.

My dad no longer works and lives on his pension/DLA. My mum does work part time and doesn't get DLA (as far as I'm aware).

They're both incredibly grateful for their blue badges, but don't really understand why they also mean free parking. It's not about being thrilled at saving a few quid in parking - in fact they've both said that outside of hospital parking, they don't think it should be free!

However, some people will feel differently.

And some people's circumstances will mean it's more necessary than others for them to not pay for their parking.

Without my car I couldn't get my children to school or go out at all during the holidays. Just knowing I can park the car outside my house when I have done to much because I have taken then out. Or knowing that I can have a space wide enough to get out of the car. Sometimes its free, sometimes its not I always have to check. A day out can often cost more as I can only stand and do for a certain amount so often have to buy food.

To answer OPs original post (after reading all comments Inc apology). I think that OPs council are BU.

A blue badge should not be means tested because disability is not means tested. I agree with some previous posters that say you can have the free postage if you take dc/DH/my disability too.

All too often people (in general, not directed at anybody in-particular) make judgements about disabled people, whether they have DLA or a blue badge, before actually considering what they take for granted. To begrudge a blue badge or parking fees, is a wee bit petty when so many disabled people would give that small benefit up in an instant if they could give up their disability.

Did you know that children with at least one disabled parent are more likely to be living below the poverty line.

This is why we have TAX. Income and wealth are means tested by the Inland Revenue, so all our contributions to the system are made on ability to pay. Therefore, we don't need to means test every necessary facility like Blue Badges. But I find the effort I put in to acquiring a degenerative disease is well rewarded by some inadequately resourced free parking. Welcome to my world, OP. Rejoice in its luxury.

If you charge for disabled parking, you are, in effect, taxing disability. It would be a "Stealth Tax". Is that the term?