Latest news with #BlueBadge
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
Widow fined more than £1,000 by parking wardens after council fails to renew Blu
A widow said she has been fined more than £1,000 in parking charges after her local council did not renew her Blue Badge before the deadline. June Olley, 90, from Wapping, has been caught in a six months-long 'limbo' after being hit with dozens of parking fines due to a 'backlog' at Tower Hamlets council. She first applied to renew her Blue Badge in November – three months before it expired – after being warned by Tower Hamlets there was an up to 12 week wait to receive a new badge. But despite lodging the new application seven months ago, she has still not received it and has spent months chasing for an update. A council spokesperson told Metro they first wrote to her in March, and followed up three weeks ago, asking to show evidence of her disability to allow them to renew her badge. But June said she has received no letters to her address, which has a 24-hour porter. When she asked her doctor to write a letter to confirm her disability, she was told the council has to request a form from the doctor. June told Metro: 'It is absolutely devastating. I'm sick to death that they don't respond, they don't give any clues. It is stressful, it is not nice to get these letters about the fines I've received. 'I don't set out to get a fine, but it happens. Almost once a week.' June, who has lived in St Katharine's Docks for almost 40 years and was born nearby, relies on her car to leave the house as she becomes out of breath when walking. She said her car is a lifeline for her as she uses it to visit her children and to get to her meditation classes, which she teaches weekly in Hertfordshire, and drives her neighbours in her block to their medical appointments. As she 'can't do anything online because I don't have the facility or ability,' her lodger, a Ukrainian refugee, sent the renewal application in November on her behalf. June told Metro: 'I didn't think more of it until mid-January, until I realised I hadn't heard back.' Despite leaving messages on several council numbers, she says she didn't hear back. 'Then end of January came, and I started getting more anxious and chased even more,' she said. She said she visited the Town Hall in Whitechapel in January for advice, where she was told by staff to send a prompt, and then in February she received a call saying that it would be resolved in 10 days, but never heard back. For the past six months, June has been using her car as normal, with the expired Blue Badge glued to her window with a handwritten note explaining her situation, but it has been largely ignored by traffic wardens. 'Occasionally, you get a warden who turns a blind eye, but often they give you a ticket,' she said. 'I end up paying, because I cannot just be stuck in my flat.' In the end, her son ended up submitting a new application after June 'moaned about it to everybody,' but she is still waiting to hear back. June said she is lucky for being able to afford the fines, meaning she hasn't had to deal with bailiffs, but she feels 'indignant' for anyone else less fortunate caught in a similar situation. She added: 'There's a lot of pressure and advertising for elderly people living alone, as I am, to make sure that you socialise as much as possible and that you take exercise. 'I joined the local gym, where there's a superb guy who does a small class for elderly people, and I go twice a week. There's a community coffee morning I go to in the mornings. 'I really have worked on doing all the right things. I have quite a good social life, I go to the theatre and I have good friends. 'But everything I do requires my car, because I can't really go anywhere except by my car.' A spokesperson from Tower Hamlets Council said: 'We are sorry to hear about Ms Olley's experience and understand how important a valid Blue Badge is for her independence and wellbeing. 'To process a Blue Badge renewal, applicants must provide the necessary supporting documentation to confirm their continued eligibility. In Ms Olley's case, we sent letters on March 4 and June 12, 2025, advising that no evidence had been received and clearly outlining the steps required to proceed. More Trending 'As this documentation is essential for assessment, and the Department for Transport system does not allow applications to be placed on hold, we were unable to progress the application. These requirements are outlined on the council's website in line with national guidance. 'We can also confirm that the council does not currently charge a fee for new or renewal Blue Badge applications. If Ms Olley made a payment, this may relate to a separate service or concession, and we would be happy to look into this further with her. 'We are committed to improving the Blue Badge application process and have recently introduced a new case management system to help deliver a more efficient and responsive service. 'A senior officer is now reviewing Ms Olley's most recent application and a member of our team will be contacting her directly to offer support and resolve any outstanding matters.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map reveals UK cheating hotspot where the most people have been unfaithful MORE: Andrew Lloyd Webber shares safety fears over Rachel Zegler's Evita stunt MORE: Emergency on Tui flight to UK holiday hotspot after 'threatening note' found in toilet
Metro
a day ago
- Automotive
- Metro
Map shows where Oxford's congestion charge is proposed
Drivers in Oxford are bracing themselves for a London-style congestion charge zone if plans go ahead. The university city could soon charge drivers for entering six congestion hotspots in a bid to reduce traffic. Motorists would pay a £5 daily congestion charge to access the city centre, which will operate during peak traffic times. It aims to reduce traffic, making bus journeys faster and more reliable, allowing new bus routes, making cycling and walking safer and reducing air pollution, Oxford County Council said. However, the congestion zone would only run temporarily until the council can launch its camera-operated traffic filters in 2026. The council said traffic levels and congestion 'in and around Oxford are high.' Residents are asked to comment on the proposal as part of a consultation, which opens on June 23 for six weeks. If given the go-ahead, the Oxford zone would be the first one to launch in 20 years after congestion charges in London and Durham. The plan has been controversial from the start, with some locals fearing it could be bad for business. An anti-congestion charge petition spearheaded by independent councillor Saj Malik has reached almost 10,000 signatures. Local taxi driver Ansar Hussain, 52, said the charge is 'a bad idea.' 'They say it is an environmental measure, but eventually all vehicles will be hybrid anyway so I think they are just trying to cash in,' he said. 'Look at London. If I didn't have the cab, I wouldn't go to London because of ULEZ. If a passenger wants to go, it will be so expensive.' The Oxford Conservatives said: 'Many people rely on their cars and local Conservatives are calling on the Liberal Democrats to scrap these plans and stop penalising road users and local businesses, who will be hit hard by these changes.' The congestion charge would only apply to cars once a day. Community health and care workers, carers, Blue Badge holders and mobile traders can get a permit, allowing them to pass through the zone without paying the charge. Here are the charging points in operation every day of the week between 7am and 7pm: Hythe Bridge Street St Cross Road St Clements Street St Clements Street The following charging points will be operational Monday to Saturday between 7am-9pm and 3pm-6pm. Marston Ferry Road Hollow Way Meanwhile, Dan Roisier, 41, from Oxford and the owner of a bike-themed Peloton coffee shop, backed the idea. He said: 'I think people who are against it often don't live in the city. I mean, the Lib Dems got a majority on the council with those measures. 'I cycle to work. I don't like a city full of cars. But they should have invested more in public transport before bringing it in.' People reacted to the announcement on social media, and some were not impressed with the plan. Simon said: 'Fleecing cash strapped families who rely on cars.' Heather said: 'Ridiculous!' Will said: 'Shock! The consultation is just ticking a box. It will happen regardless you mark my words.' More Trending Richard wrote: 'Just get on with it!' The London congestion charge zone was launched in 2003 during Ken Livingstone's mayoralship. But it was Durham leading the way, with a congestion charge introduced in October 2002 – the first-ever in the UK. The London congestion charge, which applies in central London, is set to rise from £15 to £18 next year. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Ryanair plane from UK to Greece crashes on runway moments after landing MORE: Elizabeth line fare dodger caught red handed after evading £1,650 in tickets MORE: Passengers stuck on trains and platforms in sweltering heat after fire alarm
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
People on PIP could save over £700 this year through new disabled discount scheme
Millions of disabled people could save money on groceries, travel, utilities and much more every month. How to apply for a Blue Badge People on disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and more, can join a unique scheme which gives them exclusive discounts off top brands online. Purpl is a small start up run by disabled people aiming to offset the extra costs of living as a disabled person through discounts. The latest figures from Purpl show that disabled people could save over £700 this year by using the full range of Purpl discounts. More than 25,000 people have signed up to the platform since it launched last July, giving them access to discounts with hundreds of retailers and brands including Boots, Currys, Debenhams, Ninja UK, Sky, Poundland and Virgin Media. Without any major lifestyle change, disabled people can save on most, if not every spending category including groceries, transport, utilities and more. There are too many to list here, but the website has a handy A to Z and a full category guide, which you can view here. Purpl also has a range of advice and guides for disabled people around money, benefits, grants and extra support to help with the additional costs of living with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition. Access to Purpl's discounts costs £9.99 per year, but for a limited time it only costs £4.99. Purpl explains that people using four discount codes per month, saving an average of £15 per code will save over £700 during the course of a year. The Purpl website is easy to navigate and fully accessible, with easy to follow instructions on how to join - basically take a picture of your disability document and pay the membership fee. These include: Blue Badge (photo side) Disabled bus pass Disabled rail card Access card CEA card PIP, ADP, DLA or Child Disability Payment award letter Attendance Allowance letter War pension (disability component) letter Access to work / ESA letter A full guide on how to join can be found here. For anyone worried about sending key information to Purpl, the website explains: 'When you upload the photo of your document, you want to know that it's safe and that we protect your privacy. 'All of our systems and storage are protected and encrypted to the high standard you would expect them to be. When you upload your document photo, we only keep it long enough to read it and collect the information we need from it to verify your account. Once we have this, the document photo is permanently deleted.' Founder of Purpl, Georgina, has Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD, she explained the reason behind creating a discount website for disabled people: 'After becoming diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I realised how expensive life is as a disabled person. Take me as an example, I spend money every month on therapies. I go to neuro-physiotherapy twice a month, as well as having sports massages, chiropractic appointments and other alternative therapies. "I need my heating on more as my body does not function well in the cold. I spend money on equipment like walking aids and assisted technologies as well as on supplements and 'free from' food. These are not luxuries for me, they help reduce the inflammation and spasticity in my body which keeps me able to move more and improves my quality of life." Georgia continued: 'With the current talks about welfare support, disabled people may have even more financial pressure in the future. I hope that through Purpl, we can help disabled people with their everyday expenses so life is a little easier and more affordable. "As we continue to grow, I'm excited to invite more brands to the platform so disabled people can save on the brands they use regularly.' Full details on all discounts and how to join can be found on the Purpl Disabled Discounts website here.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
People with a Blue Badge may be able to use it on holiday abroad this summer
Blue Badge users could access parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, extended parking durations, or exemptions from parking fees. How to apply for a Blue Badge If you have a physical disability or health condition that affects your ability to walk safely, or have a hidden illness such as dementia, autism or Parkinson's, you may be able to get a Blue Badge to help you park closer to the places you want to go. A Blue Badge holder travelling either as a driver or a passenger can park for free in disabled parking bays and may also be exempt from other parking restrictions. However, many of the 2.6 million Blue Badge holders - including 235,700 in Scotland - may not be aware that many countries around the world have reciprocal parking arrangements with the UK, to enable disabled people to travel easily between countries, without completing extensive paperwork for their parking card or permit to be recognised. These concessions typically include access to parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, extended parking durations, or exemptions from parking fees. Guidance on explains that you can use your UK Blue Badge when travelling in some EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This guidance also provides a list of countries with links to pages that contain: information about parking for disabled people in the country disabled parking notices that you can print off and display with your Blue Badge You do not have to display a local parking notice in another country, but it may help. You should note that: local parking rules may apply in different parts of a country some countries may have changed their rules since the pages we link to were published UK Blue Badges abroad A full list of countries can be found on here, you can use the Blue Badge in: Austria Belgium Croatia Cypress Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France - May not recognise non-EU issued parking cards Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy - Non-EU parking cards accepted in some regions only Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania - Accepts non-EU parking cards Slovakia Slovenia Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) - UK Blue Badge recognition across Spain decided by local administrations Sweden Switzerland How to get a Blue Badge Applications for a Blue Badge can be made online at however the guidance advises that people with a mental condition need to contact their local council directly. It states: 'If you have a mental condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic, you cannot apply online. You should phone your local council's Blue Badge team for a paper application form.' The guidance also advises that those who do not automatically qualify for the Blue Badge scheme may need to have a mobility assessment and a meeting with a healthcare professional. It's also worth noting that there is no set processing time for new applications or Blue Badge renewals, but it can take around 12 weeks. Your local council processes Blue Badge applications and sets the price - they will also be able to advise on how long it might take. Below is a brief overview of the Blue Badge application process. Full details can be found on here. Blue Badge automatic qualification You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge in Scotland if you: are under 16 and have a letter confirming your eligibility from your visual impairment care team are 16 or over and registered or certified as severely sight impaired get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA get PIP and scored 8 points or more in the 'moving around' area of your assessment get PIP and scored 12 points in the 'planning and following a journey' area of your assessment get PIP and used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA on an indefinite or lifetime basis get PIP, used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, and your PIP decision is being appealed get ADP and have been awarded either 8 points or more in the moving around activity or 12 points in the planning and following a journey activity or enhanced rate mobility without reference to points get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment get War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement got a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability Other people who may qualify for a Blue Badge If you are not automatically eligible, you may be able to get a Blue Badge in certain circumstances, if you: have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you cannot walk at all have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you're virtually unable to walk regularly drive and cannot use parking meters because of a severe disability in both arms are responsible for a child under 3-years-old who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment are responsible for a child under 3-years-old who uses bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around have a mental health condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic when making journeys Where can I park with my Blue Badge? You can use your Blue Badge to park in certain restricted areas for free, including: at on-street parking meters in pay and display bays in disabled parking spaces on single and double yellow lines if there are no loading restrictions Using your badge in other parts of the UK You can use your Blue Badge in most other countries. If you're using your Blue Badge in England or Wales you will need to use a parking clock - this comes with your Blue Badge. The Timer Clock is a plastic dial with hands that can be adjusted to show the time of parking arrival. What do I need to apply? Applications are made online to your local council and you'll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders - you can take this picture yourself. You will also need a photo or scan of your: proof of identity (such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence) proof of address such as a Council Tax bill or government letter - you can also choose to have your local council check the Electoral Register instead proof of benefits - if you get any You will also need to know: your National Insurance number the details of your current Blue Badge - if you're reapplying Once you apply, your local council will process your application and give you a decision. If your application is turned down Your local council should tell you why you're not eligible. You can ask them to reconsider their decision if you think they haven't taken into account some important information. You can also reapply if your disability or health condition becomes more serious. Apply for a Blue Badge on the website here.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
All the sneaky ways you can be overcharged or hit with surprise bills
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares her checklist to get on top of your life administration and make sure you don't end up overpaying for things Forgotten trials, insurance auto-renews, and out-of-date documents: these can all cost you thousands over a lifetime. This is especially true if you don't keep a regular household budget of expenses, as it can be easy to miss things that aren't part of your weekly spending. Use this checklist to get on top of your life administration and make sure you don't end up overpaying for things simply because you forgot! Check your subscriptions This one can save you a lot of cash for just a couple of hours' work. Go through your PayPal, credit cards, and bank statements for the last year. Write down anything that is a repeat subscription and how much it costs. You need to go back through the last 12 months of statements to make sure you don't miss things that are billed annually! Now, take stock of the list. Do you use the subscriptions? If you use something regularly but pay monthly, switching to an annual plan could save you cash. But if you signed up to something a while ago but you don't use it enough – cancel it. Update your address Missing important letters is easy when you move house. Set up Royal Mail Redirect for a year when you move, to ensure you don't miss anything. But make sure you update your address on everything in a timely manner, too. This includes on your car V5 (which could land you a £1,000 fine if you forget), your bank and credit cards, PayPal and other payment platforms, and the electoral roll. Even if you move within the same local authority and you've updated your address with the council, make sure you also update the electoral roll ASAP as it can impact your credit score. Renew your driving licence You need to renew a photocard driving licence every ten years. It's easy to do online and costs £14. When you're aged 70 years old and above, this renewal rate changes to every three years. If you drive without a valid licence, you face a fine up to £1000. But if you drive without a licence and cause an accident, you could be prosecuted as well as fined. Apply for your Blue Badge renewal Blue Badges are provided for a limited time, and it can be easy to forget to reapply before it runs out. However, using an out-of-date badge could land you a hefty fine up to £1000. If you don't need it anymore, you need to return it to your local council, too. Blue Badges are issued by your local authority, so check your local council's website to find out how to renew in time. Sign up for MOT reminders If you drive without a valid MOT, you're facing a fine of £1000 – rising to £2500 if your car is deemed 'dangerous' based on an MOT check. The handy thing you can do is sign up for an MOT reminder. You'll get a reminder one month before your MOT is due, which gives you enough time for the maintenance and checks to ensure it passes and time to arrange your MOT before it runs out. Update your passport If you're travelling abroad and your passport has less than six months' validity on it, you could be refused entry. This could waste your entire expenditure on your holiday, as insurance and booking refund policies will not cover errors that could be avoided, such as not having a valid passport. Renew your passport online for the fastest and cheapest service. You don't need to update your passport immediately if you've changed your name, such as when you get married. All you need to do is make sure your tickets are booked in the name in your passport. However, unexpired visas in your passport may become invalid if you change your name which could cost you a lot in fines and fees. Turn off insurance auto-renew Your car, home, and contents insurance probably have auto-renew set to 'on' as standard. This means when your annual policy ends, you could have a price hike in your policy that is automatically deducted from your bank account. Turn off auto-renew now. Set reminders in your calendar a few weeks before the policy ends, and use a comparison service to find a better quote. If you like your provider, you can take a cheaper like-for-like quote to them when it's time to renew and ask them to better (or match) it. Switch bank accounts If you haven't moved your savings around in recent years, or looked at what your current account includes for a fee, you're not making your money work hard enough for you. Many savings accounts have a great introductory interest rate, which then drops after the first year. You're missing out on free money by not keeping track of the end of these offer rates! Shop around for better savings rates on a regular basis to ensure your money is growing as fast as it can. When it comes to current accounts, if you have a fee for yours, make sure you're getting the best rate. Packaged current accounts that cost a monthly fee can often include benefits you don't use, such as travel or contents insurance cover. Assess your pension funds Many of us just keep the workplace pension fund our employer chooses to pay into. But just because it's convenient for your employer doesn't mean it's the best place for your money. Do not opt out of your workplace pension! Instead, shop around to find a pension provider that suits your goals and needs. You can regularly transfer funds from your workplace account into your chosen fund, to make sure you're not missing out on employer contributions while also putting your money where it aligns best with your goals. Check your credit report Not checking your credit report could cost you thousands if there is fraudulent activity you haven't spotted. People can open lines of credit in your name, and untangling the fallout from that can be costly and time-consuming. Even if there is no fraudulent activity, you could be accidentally missing out on better interest rates for credit, or not be able to even get it, because of a mistake on your report. This can sometimes happen if a default or non-payment is recorded when you did pay on time, or when a previously financially linked person's account still shows. Or, when an account you thought was closed is still reported as being open. You can add corrections to your report to make sure you're not losing out on credit or borrowing because of them. Check your credit report with all three providers at Equifax, TransUnion (Credit Karma), and Experian. It's free to do so and easy to check errors. It's important to check all three because they each hold slightly different information, so there could be a mistake on one that doesn't show on the others. Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
