District and borough councils signal support for KentOnline’s Blue Badge Battle campaign

For more than a year now, KentOnline has been campaigning for a fairer parking system.

Our Blue Badge Battle has the support of all 18 Kent MPs, Medway Council, and more than 2,200 people who have signed our petition to signal support and urge Kent County Council (KCC) to reconsider a new discretionary scheme.

Despite this, its leader, Cllr Linden Kemkaran (Ref), says the authority will not introduce one because of concerns it could increase demand and intensify pressure on parking spaces.

In the past, the authority has suggested district and borough councils should act instead, saying concessionary local parking schemes are their responsibility.

With this in mind, we asked every council in Kent if they’d consider the feasibility of a scheme of their own, and this is what they said…

The leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Cllr Matt Boughton (Con), said he was not against helping people but added “it would be much easier and straightforward” if KCC did its own scheme rather than district and borough councils coming up with 12 different ones.

He signposted his support for the campaign and said his council is “very much behind it” but it must rely on the national Blue Badge scheme to indicate who has the greatest need.

KCC administers the Blue Badge scheme on behalf of the government.

Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alan Baldock (Lab), said his authority was of the view it is “logical” for such an initiative to be run by KCC given it administers the Blue Badge scheme already and has expertise and structure in place to develop a similar project.

He said: “In addition, were we to develop a standalone scheme just for our district, we would have to put this through our annual parking charges and budget process, meaning it could not come into place until April 2027 at the earliest.

“Given we will cease to exist come April 2028 under the plans for local government reorganisation, any initiative would only be in place for a maximum of a year before ending, meaning it would most likely only have a limited benefit in that short period of time.”

The leader of Dover District Council, Cllr Kevin Mills (Lab), said while the council sympathised with the issues raised by our campaign, it would seem logical for an extended scheme to be led by KCC to ensure consistency across the county.

Likewise, Cllr John Burden (Lab), leader of Gravesham council, said he had taken up the idea with KCC to see if a “uniform, Kent-wide system” can be put in place to prevent differences between areas creating issues for users.

A spokesperson for Folkestone & Hythe council said it had a “great deal of sympathy” for residents and would be supportive of such a scheme.

However, they added: “It is our belief it should be led by Kent County Council – as the highways authority – to ensure there is consistency across the board.”

A spokesperson for Ashford council recognised “compassion and fairness” is at the heart of our campaign, but after looking carefully at the proposal it cannot introduce a discretionary local scheme.

He said: “While we cannot support the campaign in the way you propose, we remain sympathetic to the issues involved and open to future discussion should circumstances or national guidance change.”

A spokesperson for Thanet council said the authority is not currently exploring the feasibility of any further discretionary Blue Badge scheme for people with serious illness or short-term mobility issues.

Leader of Maidstone council, Cllr Stuart Jeffrey (Green), said he would discuss the feasibility of a local discretionary scheme with the cabinet and officers to see what they thought.

The leader of Sevenoaks council, Cllr Kevin Maskell (Con), also said he would be asking the idea to be explored and would be in touch once he had an update.

Swale and Dartford council, and their leaders, did not respond.

Tunbridge Wells council said the issue would be raised with its leader, Cllr Ben Chapelard.

During a Westminster Hall debate on the Blue Badge scheme last July, the Under-Secretary of State for Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, said she would be asking her officials to review and update the existing advice note to local authorities to provide clearer, practical guidance on how they can support residents with short-term mobility challenges.

KentOnline has since asked for an update on this advice note, with a Department for Transport spokesperson confirming it will be updated in due course.

However, they could not give a timeframe.

Maidstone MP Helen Grant (Con), who has been co-leading the campaign, is writing directly to the Department for Transport and Mrs Greenwood to make the case for what is both “right and fair”.

She said: “One of KCC’s arguments against our request was the high level of fraud known to exist within the current Blue Badge scheme. My response was that this is not a valid reason to deny support to those who genuinely need it.

“Our focus remains upon central government, which we know is keen to revise the existing scheme.

“The aim is to ensure that people with indisputable and genuine need for accessible parking, including those undergoing cancer treatment and those with serious but time‑limited illnesses, are properly supported, while also reducing the high levels of fraud.”

KCC’s Cllr Kemkaran said: “We will follow any new national guidance from the government if it is introduced. In the meantime, we work closely with end‑of‑life support services to fast‑track Blue Badge applications for residents with a terminal diagnosis.

“These applications are assessed within 10 working days when the right evidence is provided. Anyone who believes they meet these criteria should speak to their cancer care team or Macmillan nurse, who can support the fast‑track process.”

KCC received 48,000 Blue Badge applications last year and says, “demand remains high”.

Cllr Kemkaran added: “There are already 93,989 Blue Badge holders in Kent. Published National Disease Registration Service data shows more than 34,000 people in Kent and Medway are living with and beyond cancer, and the scheme — which is not government‑funded — is already operating at full stretch.

“Adding another scheme would significantly increase demand, worsen waiting times, intensify pressure on already limited disabled parking spaces and could create further congestion on roads with double yellow lines, as well as heighten the risk of fraud.”

The campaign was prompted by Sandy Burr, who was refused a badge even after a cancer diagnosis, a toe amputation, and blood clots in her lungs that severely limited her ability to walk.

Martin White, a 79-year-old with leukaemia, a tumour and heart problems, was refused a badge despite needing a stairlift and mobility scooter.

Refusals come after being told their condition may not last for three years, a requirement for obtaining a badge under current guidelines.

The campaign led by KentOnline and Ms Grant (Con), Chatham and Aylesford’s Tris Osborne (Lab), and Tunbridge Wells’ Mike Martin (Lib Dem), calls for temporary parking concessions.

This is for patients living with cancer and other life-altering conditions, who do not currently meet criteria for a Blue Badge - meaning their illness or injury might not last longer than three years.