A council has urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to reconsider reforms to blue badge guidance to ensure fairness for applicants.

The call from Norfolk County Council has been amplified after a case involving a 71-year-old man, Nigel Ward, who is an amputee and had reapplied to his local authority for a blue badge.

Mr Ward’s reapplication for the parking permit had initially been rejected by the council, which said that further evidence of Mr Ward’s limited mobility was required based on Government guidance.

Following an assessment by a physiotherapist, his application was later approved by the local authority.

While badge holders must reapply for their permits and be reassessed every three years, Mr Ward has reportedly called for the DfT to implement a renewal process for people with permanent disabilities.

The council has also echoed these concerns and urged the Government to reform blue badge guidance and provide sufficient funding for the service to equip councils with an increased level of local decision making.

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A DfT spokesperson said: ‘The Blue Badge scheme is a vital lifeline for many disabled people, and we are committed to ensuring it reaches those who genuinely need it.

‘Decisions on individual cases are a matter for local authorities and we expect councils to assess applications fairly.’

Cllr Pat Gould, cabinet member for countryside, coast and culture, at Norfolk County Council said: ‘I'm personally very pleased that, following a further assessment, we have now been able to award a Blue Badge to Mr Ward. This is the right outcome, but the process that led to it was not. The current national guidance forced him to jump through unnecessary hoops to secure support that he was ultimately entitled to receive.

‘That this case highlights everything that is wrong with the current Blue Badge system across the country. Councils are expected to follow rigid national rules that prevent common-sense decisions being made locally.

‘At the same time, the scheme remains plagued by fraud and misuse, while councils are left to administer it with limited resources. In Norfolk, we have a robust record of securing convictions for Blue Badge misuse, but the system isn't helping.

‘The Government needs to enact reform to give local authorities meaningful discretion while properly funding the service so people receive a fair deal. I wrote to the minister in August to raise these very serious concerns and I would invite them to reconsider them in light of Mr Ward's case.’