Council criticised over Blue Badge delays

West Northamptonshire Council has come under criticism for delays in issuing blue badges for vulnerable and older residents.

At a council meeting in November, Liberal Democrat member Rosie Humphreys said the process for applying for the badge had become more demanding and was not a "straightforward" experience.

A Freedom of Information Request (FOI) by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) found the number of declined applications had quadrupled since 2024.

A council spokesperson said: "We recognise the impact that delays or refusals can have on residents who rely on a Blue Badge, and we are sorry for the distress this can cause."

A Blue Badge, which can be used by people to park closer to amenities, costs £10 to apply for in England and must be renewed every three years.

The council revealed it had received almost 13,000 applications up to the beginning of last month.

Out of those, 8,593 were approved with 2,110 declined and more than 2,000 awaiting a decision.

The council said common reasons for refusals included insufficient supporting evidence, missed deadlines or applications not meeting the appropriate criteria.

An 88-year-old man told the LDRS he had been waiting almost three months after his original application was rejected, and had to go through the appeals process.

A woman from Daventry said she was left waiting three months for a replacement after submitting her badge for renewal and was left without the documentation for almost six weeks.

The council claimed updated national guidance had tightened eligibility criteria and led to an increase in refusals.

On its website, residents are urged to apply at least six weeks before their current badge expires in order to avoid delays.

A spokesperson said processing times varied due to new guidance and a technical issue with the Department for Transport's systems which created a temporary backlog.

They said: "Processing times between June and December generally remained within the council's six-to-eight-week service standard, with performance improving again toward the end of the year.

"However, we accept that improvements can be made and work is under way to make the process clearer and reduce unnecessary burden on applicants."

It added that the service continued to be reviewed.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.