Time to stand up for disabled

I see that the Government has finally decided to do something about the abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme.

With a son who is entitled to the badge I see at the first had the sort of problems the disabled face. First is the problem of able bodied people who park in a disabled spot because it is nearest to the entrance of a supermarket or pub or whatever and their disability is easy for all to see - they suffer from complete idleness and total disregard for others.

They won't risk parking on double yellow lines in the street or not paying in parking bays or in council car parks but in private car parks, supermarkets and pubs, disabled spaces are fair game and even have the advantage of being much wider for easier access.

If the disabled spaces are full of course then there are always the mother and child spaces which are also wider and nearer the entrance.

Stolen and forged badges are another problem. With scanners and colour photcopiers so affordable these days then it is easy for the less scrupulous to knock up dozens of badges which, once disguised by a plastic wallet, are difficult to spot from the real thing and it appears that the real thing is going for up to £1500 a pop on the black market - a bargain when they give you free parking and exemption from congestion charging in London.