Hartlepool mum '˜dumbfounded' after severely disabled daughter is denied blue badge permit

Carly Bradley applied for the blue permit because her four-year-old Emmie Wood has severe autism as well as chronic lung disease.

Just days after an assessment by a physio to see if the family would be able to get a permit, Hartlepool Borough Council told Carly the application had not been successful.

The council has said that anyone not happy with the result of an assessment can appeal the decision so that the case can be “fully reviewed”.

“I couldn’t believe it when they told me,” said Carly, of the Wisbeach Close in the Fens area of Hartlepool.

“My daughter has a number of conditions and no spatial awareness.

“She has constant meltdowns and that’s why I need the badge to be able to get close to shops.

“If we park up further away there’s a chance she can run off and it’s dangerous.

“She’s been given a wheelchair and it’s quite big to get in the car and take around as well.

“I’m disgusted by the decision. Absolutely dumbfounded.”

Carly has said she intends to appeal the decision in the hope that she will be able to get the permit.

She added that she was unhappy with the assessment carried out on Emmie, who receives Disability Living Allowance, believing it was not thorough enough.

“It only seemed to last 30 seconds and then they sent her away,” said Carly.

“Her behaviour can be very extreme and she often gets quite violent. The physio seemed to watch her run about for a bit and think she was OK.

“It’s not like we are asking for free parking, just a badge so that we can get closer to places which would make things so much easier.

“I’m looking to appeal but I just can’t believe that she has been turned down in the first place.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokeswoman said: “If an applicant believes an assessment has not accurately captured the full extent of a medical condition, we would advise that they follow the appeals process so that the case can be fully reviewed and any concerns can be addressed within that process.”