STICKY RESPONSE

Sir – It beggars belief that Mr Harris (Letters Oct 2004) can castigate members for having the audacity to place a label on his car windscreen at Norwich Airport when he was occupying
a disabled parking space and not displaying his badge. Was it really beyond him to consider leaving a photocopy of the badge together with a brief note stating he had taken the badge with him (as we do when travelling from airports)?
The sad thing is that it says a lot about the way such parking spaces are managed in this country. He should have returned to find more than just a label fixed to his windscreen. He can also be thankful it wasn't one of my labels waiting for him; it would have taken more than petrol to have removed them!
Chris Curtis, Milton Keynes

STICKY RESPONSE II

Sir – In response to Lesley A Windle, I must point out that her expectations for Blue Badge holders in her submission to the November issue of the DDMC magazine, seem to me to be
totally unreasonable.
Firstly, there is no argument to the fact that a vehicle parked in a designated disabled parking area, and not displaying a blue badge, is parked there illegally. The fact that the Blue Badge had to be taken for use on holiday and removed from the car at the airport parking, should have been brought to the notice of the parking authority, who I'm sure would have made provision for this by attaching a notice to the vehicle to this effect.
Also it would be common decency to leave a note on the car windscreen explaining the circumstances, with the Blue Badge number displayed and referring to the “Disabled”
classification on the tax disc. It is totally unreasonable to expect the public (or the parking authority) to just presume that the vehicle is there legally.
Secondly, in the case of the hospital pick-up, the Blue Badge should have been left with the person whose vehicle was to be used for the conveyance from the hospital, for display on arrival at the appropriate car park. After all, it is of no earthly use to the patient while in the hospital.
Please refer to your Blue Badge booklet, which clearly explains the correct use of the badge facility.
Donald G.D. MacLeod
(Blue Badge holder)

STICKY RESPONSE III

Sir – With regard to the two scenarios posed by Lesley Windle in the November issue of Disabled Motorist, I see no problem with either. In case 1, notify the car park operator that the car will be left badgeless, and why, and leave a reminder note on the dashboard. We have done this many times with no difficulties whatsoever.
With case 2, assuming that the car driver is in possession of the badge, then waiting for the badge holder is surely a legitimate condition of use.
A Smith
Northampton

PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE

Sir – I was reading a letter regarding the abuse of the badges by relatives and friends using them for themselves. I have always believed that the picture should have been put on the front not at the back – this way all can see, so if the person is not in the car or with them you can ask them to move. Plus it would be better for the traffic wardens and the police and supermarkets.
I do not know if this has been said before; if so, I am sorry for sending this letter. Either way I do enjoy reading all the news and all the information and I do thank you for all the great work you all do.
Mr P H Reece, Lowestoft

BADGE RENEWAL? SIMPLE!

Sir – In the November issue of your magazine a correspondent from Leeds is concerned about the decision of Leeds City Council to use a postal service to renew Blue Badges. He needs his badge 365 days a year.
There will be no need for him to be without a badge for any time at all if Leeds follows the lead of Surrey City Council.
They have always used a postal service. Each badge is issued for three years. When the time has come to renew, you simply telephone for a renewal application, fill this in giving date of expiry, enclose photograph and fee and send it off. You are never without a badge and the new one
is returned very quickly.
In the same issue, Spelthorne Committee for Access Now raises the question of collecting badge holders from hospital appointments. At the Royal Surrey Country Hospital, bays for hospital voluntary drivers are set beside the disabled parking plus designated 20-minute zones for anyone arriving or leaving after an appointment. Perhaps Lesley Windle could persuade other Surrey hospitals to do the same?
I love reading the letters; keep them coming please.
Sheila Storer
Ashford

IʼM NO SPACE INVADER

Sir – I agree with the points made by A Morgan (Letters November 2004) and suffer similar challenging looks at times. I have several lung conditions that are lumped together under the heading of COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When I go shopping it is
important to park as near to the shop entrance as possible.
Disabled bays are free; others have a 50p charge, refundable at the check-out.
What amazes me is that many of the disabled bays are almost at the far end of the park while mother and child parking is adjacent to the entrance. I try to shop at times when things are less busy but it is not always possible and I am sometimes in the position of having to travel elsewhere to shop, as only in very dry and mild conditions am I able to cover the distance from parking to shop entrance, although to look at me you might think I wouldn't be out of place in the London Marathon.
On my last shopping trip I couldn't find a disabled space so I parked in an ordinary bay, but because of my condition I need a little more space for getting in and out of my car. I wasn't more than half an hour and despite having my Blue Badge on display, when I returned there was a ticket stuck to my windscreen telling me not to encroach on two bays in future. The store in this instance being W Morrison, Retford.
L A Cook
via email

INVISIBLE DISABILITY

Sir – I felt I had to write in total agreement with A Morgan's letter in the November issue. I, too, am a disabled person who appears perfectly normal at first. However, eight knee operations have left me with osteo-arthritis which at this time of year gets particularly uncomfortable and leaves me only able to walk short distances at a time.
Naturally, all scarring from this surgery is under clothing.
Further to this, I have undergone brain surgery which has left me with a number of other problems; shopping in large stores especially, as the banks of fluorescent lights play havoc with me.
Again, 98 per cent of the scarring is under my hair and therefore not visible. I often get strange looks from people, when I've pulled into a disabled bay, then got out, because most people
naturally assume there's nothing wrong with me. I even had a case recently where a female driver questioned whether I was disabled or not. I invited her to inspect my badge, to which she turned away.
Other incidents in the past have even produced such comments as: “You don't look disabled,” to which I usually reply: “And you don't look like a doctor.” As A Morgan writes, you get a certain
amount of public ignorance on the matter, and I too am often annoyed by other people's attitude just because they cannot see an obvious disability. Blue Badges are not given out “willy-nilly” as
it seems most people think they are.
Shaun Griffiths
via email

SCOOTER SWIZZ

Sir – When I received the October edition of Disabled Motorist and read that there was an article on electric scooters I was full of anticipation and immediately turned to read it. What a swizz. There was no comparative table, no indication of costs to purchase or to run and at the end the disclaimer that all the information was pulled from the manufacturers' leaflets. I felt this was an opportunity missed. This is an area where it is very difficult to gather even basic independent advice and one where increasing amounts of money are being spent.
It would be very helpful if the DDMC could run a series of articles at least comparing products within the main categories.
At a bare minimum a table of bench mark prices would allow people entering this tricky market to be better informed.
You could also point people to where they could find additional information.
If you do decide to run tests I would be very happy to be one of the testers!
J M Garside
via email

EASY SEAT

Sir – Further to your article on "Products to make life easier" in the November edition, I would like to mention a firm based in Dorset called Easy-Seat. The firm manufactures, among other things, a vertical lift toilet seat which is either battery or mains operated. It is very flexible and it enables users to seat themselves from a standing position to any height required.
More recently the firm has introduced a traveller version of the Easy-Seat which enables people to take the toilet lift with them on holiday. It is battery operated and smaller than the original and can be fitted into a wheeled case, provided with the seat lift. Although the combined weight of the seat and case would require an able-bodied person to lift it, as yet I have found no shortage of
volunteers when travelling on my own. Easy-Seat's telephone number is 01202 624484.
Dai Davies
via email

INVISIBLE DISABILITY

Sir – The letter by Alison Davis objecting to the promotion of euthanasia in Disabled Motorist was written eloquently and with common sense.
Many disabled people rightly object to euthanasia. But in any case, as Alison Davis wrote, what on earth has that issue got to do with motoring?!
Disabled Motorist is to be commended for choosing her letter as the Letter of the Month – and I trust that this means the common sense expressed in it will be heeded in any further editorial decisions.
Colin Harte

BADGE-HOLDER ABUSE

Sir – The continuing problem of abuse of disabled parking spaces will not be solved until the public attitude to manners and decency changes. One element which can be changed is the abuse by
badge holders themselves. The use of a parking bay by a driver/passenger whilst someone able-bodied does the shopping etc. There are numerous occasions when this is seen and talking to the driver/passenger results in as much verbal abuse as that from non-badge holders. Therefore,
I suggest that we clean up our own act before we condemn others.
Malcolm Nelson
Carlisle

TRADER TIP

Sir – I agree with the sentiments expressed by W J Bowdrey that disabled people are targets for “rip-off merchants”. However, I can recommend a company whose prices are reasonable and service first-class. You can find them on the internet at www.equalfuture. co.uk, telephone 0121 743 6126 or write to Unit W2, Warwick House, Warwick Industrial Estate, 18 Forge Lane, Minworth, West Midlands, B76 1AH.
I recently bought a bathboard from them. It arrived within a week and was several pounds cheaper than the identical item from Help the Aged.
Rob Dowlman, Lincoln

TOO MUCH PROTEST

Sir – In the November issue of Disabled Motorist you report that the Government is “considering” a fee of £4.50 per year to register a car, using the revenue to prevent fraud. I thought the tone of your item far too “tabloid” to enlist my support.
While disabled motorists' organisations have been very successful in increasing the benefits and concessions for disabled drivers, I think we would lose the sympathy of the Government and fellow motorists if too much energy is put into complaining about the sum of£4.50 per year if it is intended to be out to sensible use.
I think most disabled drivers know how to prioritise their spending and all motorists feel the cost of rising oil prices and insurance. This proposal is not “completely unacceptable” to me.
Please would the DDMC think carefully before complaining too loudly about this proposal.
Miss K Norwood Kent

OUT OF ACTION

Sir – Most insurance policies promise the use of a hire-car when bodywork repairs are needed to one's own car after an accident but in practice this is not available to disabled drivers who use
hand-controls.
Is it not discrimination on the part of car hire firms to fail to make such cars available? After all, the adaptations do not stop anyone able-bodied from driving the car if it is not needed by a disabled
person.
Could you lobby the major car hire firms to make some adapted cars available at an affordable price? I once found one when in such a situation but the firm wanted £800 per week plus delivery
charge to my area.
Irene Robinson
Bristol

TAKEAWAY SAFETY

Sir – Tony Wyer's thought-provoking letter (Disabled Motorist, October 2004) suggests the widespread abuse of disabled parking bays by badge-holders' family and friends would be greatly curtailed if disabled people removed their Blue Badges when not in the car. This prompts me to draw attention to a catalogue advertisement, read this week, for a leather holder for clock/badge, which may be “slipped into the glove compartment” or “taken away” after use.
On reading this, I recalled a conversation with the person who renewed my badge, and who would definitely not have recommended the glove compartment.
After asking where I kept my badge when not driving, and approving of my habit of putting it in my handbag, she told me that, in her experience, those who left their Blue Badges in the car between journeys, and were then the unfortunate victims of car theft, found it easier to replace the car than their badge.
Thanks for a most readable and stimulating magazine.
B Sheard
Stockport

LACK OF RESPECT

Sir – I recently went to Peterborough to the Land Rover Show with my wife who has walking difficulties. As it was a very big show with a lot of walking around, we hired a scooter to enable my wife a little bit more freedom.
Later that day, my friend came to the show and he wanted to look round. My legs were worn out, plus it was time to take the scooter back, so rather than push it, I decided to ride it back having a
look at things as I went.
Sir, I have never felt so small or frowned upon in my life. The only respect I received was from young people– was it because the adults were on a mission to buy? Is this the norm? Or are
people on scooters always treated with disrespect?
My suggestion would be let the ablebodied people who look down on people less-abled go and do their shopping under the same circumstances, giving them a taste of what it is like. Also people
who park in disabled spaces should be made to do their shopping in a wheelchair and let them see the difficulties for themselves and then they might have a bit more respect for the less able and the
need to park closer to the shops.
The abled-bodied of today will get older and be the less able in the future, so let's get it right now for the benefit of now and the future .
T J Catton MBE
Barnsley

We welcome your views on any issue affecting disabled motorists. It may be about something you’ve read in this magazine or an experience that has affected you.
If you think other people should know about it, write and tell us:
Letters
Disabled Motorist
DDMC
Cottingham Way
Thrapston
Northants
NN4 4PL
or email:
[email protected]
The Editor reserves the right to edit submissions for length or legality.