Petition signed by 31,000 people to abolish 'unfair' Blue Badge parking charges in Scotland to be considered by Highland councillors

A campaign by a Highland woman to abolish Blue Badge parking charges across Scotland will be considered by Highland councillors next week.

An online petition started by Danielle Morrall calling for the £20 reapplication fee to be scrapped has been signed by more than 31,000 supporters.

Ms Morrall, of Kirkhill, says the fee, which disabled people have to pay every three years, is unethical and unfair.

Her petition will be put to members of the council’s communities and places committee on Wednesday when they will decide whether to keep the reapplication charge in the Highlands, or recommend it be abolished.

The Blue Badge scheme provides on-street parking concessions for severely disabled people experiencing the greatest barriers to their mobility and is open to eligible disabled people irrespective of whether they are a driver or a passenger.

Local councils process applications on behalf of the Scottish Government and it is up to each one to decide on the charge – but of the 32 local authorities, only Dumfries and Galloway has waived the charge.

Blue Badge charges 'unethical'

Ms Morrall – whose brother, Bradley (35), has a lifelong disability – said the Blue Badge is free in Wales and costs up to £10 in England.

“It is the unfairness of it,” she said. “It is very wrong to have to keep reapplying and paying when you have a lifelong condition which is not going to change.”

She said disability was not a choice and the charge was unethical.

“It is not a privilege to have a Blue Badge,” she said. “It is a requirement.”

Ms Morrall said the petition had gained massive support right across Scotland.

“We are delighted,” she said. “We never expected anything like this.”

Highland Council processes about 4000 blue badge applications each year. These are new applications and reapplications.

Members of the communities and place committee will consider whether to keep the £20 renewal fee or agree to recommend to the council meeting due to be held on March 3 that as part of its budget the charge is abolished from April 1.

They will also consider whether the loss of the £53,000 in income the charges bring annually can be sustained.

In a letter to Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson, Minister for Transport Graeme Dey says government officials have been working closely with councils to enable current badge holders assessed by a regulated healthcare professional and deemed as requiring no further assessment to re-apply using a more streamlined application form.

Blue Badges free in Wales

Inverness South councillor Andrew Jarvie said the reapplication charge should be abolished.

“I’d never quite understood the justification for this charge given how most Blue Badge holders are entitled to it automatically by the level of disability benefit they receive,” he said.

“The time to process this is a tick box check for the overwhelming majority of people – 97 per cent of applications are approved as a result of the high volume who qualify automatically.

“Unfairly, Scotland has the highest Blue Badge fees in the UK, charging twice as much as England and Wales, who have already made it free.

“The council put the case forward that abolishing this would be a loss of income, which is a shameful approach when this is an important need for so many people, not a luxury or nice to have.

“It’s only right that councillors agree to abolish this charge.”

Read more: Petition to abolish fees for Blue Badges