Blue badge education call
Understanding of hidden disabilities
More understanding is needed of the rights of people with ‘invisible’ disabilities to have a blue parking badge, according to a Stirling councillor.
Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache highlighted recent cases elsewhere in the UK where drivers transporting children with autism had been taken to task for parking in disabled spaces, despite having the badge.
At Thursday’s meeting of Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee, he also asked officials if there were measures in place to ensure disabled parking bays were properly marked.
He said: “Parking in a disabled bay without a blue badge is one of the worst things you can do. The bays need to be properly marked so people don’t have any excuse for parking there unless they have a blue badge.
“I have been reading recently about people with blue badges for children with autism being abused. It is important the public realise that these badges are not just for people with visible disabilities.”
Regulatory services manager Lorraine MacGillivray said: “Our officers liaise with our colleagues in the roads team and if they come across any bays where the paintwork or signage needs improved these are reported.
“We have systems in place for reporting that so I’m comfortable our disabled bays are clearly marked.
“Officers don’t get involved in questioning why a blue badge has been allocated but if there were any questions about misuse we would report that.
“I’m happy to considering doing some communication around [educating the public on invisible disabilities].”
Tory councillor Alastair Majury said: “Some businesses and organisations, including Sainsbury’s, now have lanyards alerting people that someone has a hidden disability.
“It would be good to see if there are any schemes like this that we could participate in.”
Ms MacGillivray said: “We are not involved in anything like this at the moment but I’m happy to look at that.”
These badges not just for people with visible disabilities