MP supports Blue Badge changes

WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat has given his support to a Private Members’ Bill to amend the Blue Badge legislation.
Simon Kirby’s “Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges Bill”, which will receive its second reading in the chamber of the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday) has already attracted cross party support, with the list of supporters including former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett and Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd.
The aim of the Bill is to protect people who genuinely need a blue badge by clamping down on the misuse of badges by those individuals abusing the current scheme.
The National Fraud Authority estimates misuse of badges is costing local authorities up to £46 million a year. The Bill would introduce a number of measures to tackle this problem.
Mr Mowat (pictured) said: “I know that many disabled people in Warrington are frustrated when they cannot park because someone is misusing a badge. This Bill will clamp down on those individuals who abuse the system and deprive legitimate badge holders from parking.
“Pretending to be disabled for financial gain is deeply offensive to people with genuine disabilities.
“The changes contained within the Bill will improve the credibility of the scheme and result in the greater availability of parking spaces, protecting the scheme for genuine badge holders who have the most need.
“I am pleased to be supporting this Bill, which will benefit many genuine blue badge holders up and down the country.”