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Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:

“We would welcome tighter regulation and enforcement of the blue badge scheme as the system shouldn’t be abused. However we don’t want changes in the systems to make it harder for older people who need a blue badge to get one. This means ensuring that the criteria include wider aspects than just how far you can walk since people who have Alzheimer’s or dementia and their carers, for example, would benefit from having a blue badge.

“We would also like to see stricter guidance given to local authorities and GPs to ensure there is greater consistency in judging who is eligible for a blue badge. At the moment we are concerned that some older people miss out just because of their postcode.”

ENDS