Blue badge is given afterMP's concern

Barbara Haddon’s case was mentioned to David Cameron in the House of Commons last September by her MP, Nick Gibb.

Mr Gibb has since met West Sussex County Council officers because of his concerns constituents, such as Mrs Haddon, 87, were being denied blue badges despite the fact the eligibility criteria had stayed the same.

The county council agreed to look again into her case and recently told her she had been awarded a new badge.

She contacted Mr Gibb last August after the council told her she could no longer have a blue badge. Mr Gibb raised the matter in prime minister’s question time the next month. He said: “Barbara Haddon from Felpham has crumbling vertebrae, is in constant pain, and can walk only short distances.”

A county council spokesman said changes brought in by the department for transport in January 2012 meant each local authority had to ensure badges were only issued to residents who satisified at least one of the eligibility criteria set out in the legislation that governed the scheme.

“Mrs Haddon has recently provided additional medical evidence, which demonstrates that she now meets the criteria for a blue badge,” he said. No more details would be provided because of the need for confidentiality.