Trafford woman with Parkinson’s refused a Blue Badge

Edith Disley says she was left struggling to stay independent after waiting months for an assessment and then being refused a Blue Badge.

New Parkinson’s UK research highlights inconsistencies in the scheme across England.

A Trafford woman with Parkinson’s has spoken out after waiting around six months for a Blue Badge assessment before her application was refused, only receiving support after lodging an appeal.

Edith Disley, 74, applied for a Blue Badge through Trafford Council in August 2023 after her mobility deteriorated due to Parkinson’s. Despite being told she would receive a decision within six weeks, Edith says she waited several months for an assessment and was later refused before successfully challenging the decision.

Her story comes as new research from Parkinson’s UK reveals significant differences in how Blue Badge applications are assessed across England.

The charity found application processing times vary from one to 17 weeks depending on where people live. Trafford Council reports an average processing time of seven weeks for walking difficulty applications.

Parkinson’s UK says inconsistent assessments and lengthy waits can leave people with Parkinson’s without access to vital parking support, affecting their independence and ability to get out and about.

Edith Disley, 74, from Trafford, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008 and applied for a Blue Badge through Trafford Council in August 2023 after her mobility deteriorated. Despite being told she would receive a decision within six weeks, Edith waited several months before being offered an assessment.

Edith said: “I applied in August and was told I’d hear back within six weeks. Six weeks later, I was told I needed an assessment, but I then had to wait until February for an appointment. By the time I finally had the assessment, I’d already been waiting for months.”

Edith felt the assessment failed to reflect the reality of living with Parkinson’s and focused too heavily on pain rather than the wider mobility challenges caused by the condition.

“The assessor seemed very focused on pain, but a lot of the mobility problems caused by Parkinson’s aren’t about pain at all. They’re about not being able to move, freezing, and having difficulty walking. I didn’t feel there was much understanding of Parkinson’s or how it affects mobility.”

A few weeks later, Edith was told her application had been rejected but was given little explanation as to why. After submitting an appeal and contacting her local councillor, her application was approved.

Reflecting on the experience, Edith said the lengthy process had a significant impact on her independence and confidence.

“Walking was becoming harder and harder, and getting out and about was much more difficult without a Blue Badge. Parking close to where I needed to go and having enough space to get in and out of the car makes a huge difference. I found myself thinking twice about simple trips because of the difficulties involved.”

Since receiving her Blue Badge, Edith says it has transformed her ability to remain active and independent.

“Having a Blue Badge gives me a sense of security and freedom. It means I can shop independently, visit people, attend activities and continue supporting my local Parkinson’s group. It has made a real difference to my day-to-day life.”

Shockingly, 60% of authorities are forcing people with progressive conditions like Parkinson’s to re-prove their disability, rather than offering the basic dignity of an automatic Blue Badge renewal. And more than 10% of issuing authorities do not recognise Blue Badges issued by other authorities, causing unnecessary bureaucracy for people moving across geographical boundaries.

Transparency around applications from people with Parkinson’s is severely lacking. Only 3% of authorities record how many people with the condition apply, and only one in five (22%) provide clear data on refusals due to walking difficulties.

Parkinson’s UK has created an interactive map so people can see the data it has collected for every local authority that responded to its enquiries. 

Parkinson’s UK is calling on the Department for Transport to make the Blue Badge scheme fair and consistent across England, providing people with Parkinson’s a reliable service. It is asking the department to: 

• Publish statutory guidance on how to run a local Blue Badge scheme

• Improve training of Blue Badge assessors 

• Enhance data collection and transparency of local authority processing times and refusal rates

Parkinson’s UK is also asking local authorities to:

• Use health professionals who understand Parkinson’s to assess these applications (as is their legal duty)

• Stop reassessments for people with Parkinson’s

• Allow Blue Badges to be used across council boundaries

• Collect public data on applications to provide transparency

David Newbold, Director of Community at Parkinson’s UK, said: “For people living with Parkinson’s, a Blue Badge can be a lifeline. But far too many, like Steve, are battling an unfair system just to access and keep that support. 

“Last year, our Parkinson’s UK Local Advisers dealt with over 2,000 Blue Badge enquiries in England alone. This is an increase of over 75% from 2023 to 2025. Most of these calls were people struggling to navigate the system and battling unfair rejections. The Blue Badge scheme must not be a postcode lottery. The Department for Transport must act now to ensure people can access the scheme consistently and fairly, no matter where they live.”

To find out more about the campaign and read Parkinson’s UK’s  full report, ‘Blue Badges: scheme failures and fixes’, visit parkinsons.org.uk/fixing-blue-badges 

To submit an online postcard to your council leader asking them to fix the Blue Badge scheme in your local area, visit https://fixbb.parkinsons.org.uk/ 

To find out more about how the Blue Badge scheme and the information and support Parkinson’s UK offers, visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/information/travel-transport-mobility/blue-badge