An Open Letter to Essex County Council Regarding Blue Badge Charges

Yesterday my local newspaper revealed that our local authority intends to start charging for disabled blue badges as of April of this year.  You can view the article here: http://www.harlowstar.co.uk/News/Essex-County-Council-to-charge-for-disabled-parking-badges-27022012.htm

This is an open letter to them asking them to reconsider.  I shall be sending a version to my local paper as well.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I see with dismay that you intend to start charging disabled people for the use of blue badges as of April 2012.  You claim that this system is "fairer" and will "benefit those who rely on Blue Badge system".  As a blue badge holder, I would very much like to hear how this charge against vulnerable and disabled people can possibly be classed as fair?  You claim you asked residents and they were happy to pay up.  Where were these residents?  Were they users of the Blue Badge scheme?  Who did you consult before setting this fee?  It certainly wasn't all the blue badge holders in the county, because this is the first I have heard of any charge being implemented.

The current badges already include photographic ID and holograms and they don't stop non-eligible drivers from parking in disabled bays.  Almost every time I attempt to park in a disabled bay I see somebody parked there who isn't displaying a badge at all, let alone a fake one.  Of course, if I challenge somebody over their inconsiderate behaviour, I am quite likely to get a mouthful of abuse, but lucky me, I'm going to get to pay for that privilege in the future.  Obviously you will be using this extra revenue to fund officers to patrol these disabled bays and catch and fine the inconsiderate drivers who park in these bays without thought for others.  You won't be using this discriminatory tactic just to raise revenue because you're broke, will you?

I should also like to point out that the blue badge doesn’t automatically entitle the owner to free parking either (a commonly held misconception), that’s at the discretion of the car park owner.  Currently we do not have to pay in council-owned car parks, but we are charged the same as everybody else in other car parks in and around the town, including the Water Gardens and the Harvey Centre.  Other councils have had to withdraw similar plans to charge for blue badges because under the Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act of 2010 the charge was found to be unlawful because holders were being, in effect, charged twice for parking because they are disabled.

Incidentally, whilst the badges can be valid for up to three years, they are not all issued for three years.  Some are issued on a yearly basis only, a fact that you are well aware of but have chosen to keep quiet about.  This means that some disabled people will be charged three times as much for the same time period, which, frankly, is disgusting.

Nobody is harder on benefit cheats who claim for fake illnesses than the genuinely disabled, but if the public chose to believe everything this government and the media spout, they’d have to think that our ailing NHS must be being gradually wound up because all the major illnesses and disabilities have apparently been cured and there isn’t a single genuinely disabled person left in the country.   We are consistently pilloried by the current government and the media who are looking for an easy group to blame and a way to claw back money.  Please don’t jump on the bandwagon as well.

Cat versus Vet

I wrote the following a few years ago, after I realised the full extent of the general trauma surrounding this event.  Read it and pity me for what is to come.


1.  Preparation:

Get cat carrier out of cupboard, ideally about 6 months before the event so he doesn't get suspicious.

Stock up on painkillers, Savlon, plasters and Vodka.  Ignore looks from supermarket staff who clearly think that you are either a) suicidal or b) a self-harmer.

Book appointment with the Vet and apologise in advance.

About a week beforehand, bring carrier downstairs.  Observe Cat disappearing for longer periods of time.  Swear you can hear the theme from The Great Escape being whistled wherever you go.


2. The Event:

Wait for Cat to saunter nonchalantly past.  Get OH to do a "swoop and scoop" and bundle Cat into carrier before he knows what's going on.  N.B.  You only get one shot at this.  If you fail, you need to rebook the appointment because it isn't going to happen that day.

Carry Annoyed Cat out to car.  Remember to turn the door of the carrier towards your chest and try not to think about the destruction of your clothing.

Drive to Vet.  Speak reassuringly to Really Annoyed Cat all the while and tell him it's to try and calm him down.  Put on air conditioning and radio.  Tell yourself it's to calm him down and refuse to believe that it's to drown out the sound of the air raid siren now coming from the carrier.

Book in Angry Cat.  Apologise again for what is about to happen.  Sit with Angry Cat in waiting room and hope no large Dogs are also waiting.  Warn any small children that the Pussy Cat is not ideal stroking material.  Assure concerned onlookers that Really Angry Cat isn't wounded, just very vocal.  Hope fervently that Vet isn't running late.

Eventually take Furious Cat through to Vet.  Watch colour drain from Vet's face as he remembers who he is about to deal with.  Apologise again.  Try to tell yourself that all Vets call in an extra assistant and shudder before they deal with their patients.

Put carrier on the bench and stand back as Vet opens the door.  Groan inwardly as Furious Cat refuses to make an appearance.

Smile a rather watery smile as Vet offers to "go in" and coax Furious Cat out.  Try not to wince as Vet reaches in...

Make a crap joke along the lines of "Well, at least he's out now" as Vet withdraws his arm with Hissing, Spitting, Spiky, Wild-Eyed Maniac hanging off it.  Rapidly withdraw carrier.

Watch as assistant extricates Hissing, Spitting, Spiky, and Wild-Eyed Maniac from Vet's arm.  Try not to think about the blood.  Assist both the Vet and the assistant into getting Hissing, Spitting, Spiky, and Wild-Eyed Maniac into a suitable position for the check up.  Try not to think about the blood.

Get Hissing, Spitting, Spiky, and Wild-Eyed Maniac into the jab position.  Try not to think about the blood.  Position OH at the end of the bench, braced, with the carrier door open.  Just as the Vet injects the Hissing, Spitting, Spiky, Wild-Eyed Maniac, release him and watch as the Furious Furry Fiend streaks across the bench and thuds into the carrier and OH's stomach.  Rapidly close the carrier door and remove hand from harms way.  Apologise profusely again to slightly shaken Vet who tells you not to bring Furious Furry Fiend back unless he is ill or for jabs as the Cat MOT "will be too stressful for him".  Wonder whether the Vet is referring to himself or the Furious Furry Fiend.  Try not to think about the blood.

Get OH to remove carrier containing Furious Furry Fiend to the car whilst you settle the bill with the receptionist.  Apologise and promise again not to bring him back unless it is necessary.

3.  The Aftermath:

Get home with Rather More Subdued But Still Angry Cat.  Stand back whilst Annoyed Cat is released from the carrier and makes a bee-line for the back door.  Decide that he should probably stay in for a while until he decides not to leave home permanently.  Make fuss of Irritated Cat until you think he might love you again.  Check yourself and treat any wounds.

4.  Sometime Later:

Curl up on sofa with Chilled Kitty and a large Vodka and breath a huge sigh of relief that it's all over and done with for another year.  Try not to think about next year and struggle to shake the feeling that Chilled Kitty might be mocking you as you take yet another photo of him...