Angry disabled resident claims council doing nothing to stop man using Blue Badge illegally
An angry disabled resident is involved in a bitter row with the city council after claiming they are doing nothing to stop a man allegedly using a Blue Badge illegally.
The man says he and other locals have been left “fuming” after spotting the Blue Badge being falsely used in Whitcombe Gardens, near Kingston Park, on a regular basis for around six years.
Yet despite numerous complaints to Portsmouth City Council no action has been taken leaving him frustrated - especially as residents pay £270 a year for a marked bay.
The whistleblower has documented times the badge is used by the “able-bodied” man who is said to be using his partner’s Blue Badge frequently without her being in the vehicle - which is not permitted. He says the badge belongs to a woman.
However, despite the resident’s complaints no action has yet been taken - but he says he is “not letting go of this”, adding: “He is causing great anger within Whitcombe Gardens.
“I put a letter on his windscreen but he did not take any notice. Other disabled drivers have approached him over the matter.
“The badge displayed is his partner's. He gets home from work on his own. No sign of his partner who is the badge holder. I've looked it up and the badge holder must be present when parking in the disabled bay. In essence an able-bodied man is using his partner's Blue Badge illegally.
“She may travel in the car maybe once a fortnight. Other disabled people around here are fuming too.”
The resident said he has also asked to see his housing officer before it “gets out of control”.
A council email in response to the resident said: “Whilst we appreciate how frustrating the situation may be, the Blue Badge is issued to an individual and not a specific vehicle - the Blue Badge can be used in any vehicle and they may be parking there with the intention of taking the badge holder out, in which case they can display the blue badge in the vehicle.
“In addition, I would like to advise you that the vehicle to which you are referring to, has also been issued with the alternative disabled bay permit which is used by the Blue Badge holder and as such the vehicle you are referring to is entitled to park there in this location.”
But the man hit back after saying the council had misunderstood him. “You haven't listened to me. The person who is using the Blue Badge to park in the disabled bay is a man. The badge displayed is his partner's,” he wrote.
A council spokesperson told The News: “While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we take reports of suggested Blue Badge misuse seriously and take action where appropriate.”