Pensioner with one leg denied parking badge for not being disabled enough
A pensioner with one leg has been refused a blue parking badge because she is not disabled enough.
Irene Topham, 80, is in hospital after undergoing an operation to remove her limb, but when her son David applied to Doncaster Council to renew her blue parking badge, she was turned down.
Mrs Topham has held a badge for two years after suffering several health problems and has had operations on her hip and leg.
Her 57-year-old son, from Woodlands in Doncaster, informed the council of her surgery when he sent back the renewal form last month.
The payroll worker said: "She received a letter stating that on the basis of the information it is not considered that you have an inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
"We informed Doncaster Council that as well as not being able to put her foot to the floor, hence not be able to walk, she was due to have her right leg completely amputated."
Mrs Topham was then notified by Doncaster Council that her application had been rejected because "it is not considered that you have an inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking."
"I would like to see the person who has made this decision walk about on only one leg without considerable difficulty," said her son.
"It has really upset me. My mum will rely on her blue badge to get out and about. Without one she is just going to be stuck in the house.
"She's still in hospital recovering so I haven't told her yet."
He added: "I support any clamping down on misuse or fraudulent use of disabled parking permits but do not consider there is the slightest suggestion of such here."
The council has recently changed its criteria for holding a blue badge and set up a new team to issue permits, leaving delays of up to three months for issuing badges.
Joan Beck, the council's director of adults and communities, said: "All applications for a blue badge are based on a fair scoring system and we are open to an appeal if the applicant is not happy with the outcome.
"We have looked into Mrs Topham's application and no information was submitted about her leg amputation or her awaiting surgery.
"We urge Mrs Topham or a family member to get in touch with the blue badge team who can review her application."
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