Norfolk amputee, 71, refused Blue Badge over insufficient mobility evidence
Nigel Ward, a 71-year-old amputee who uses a wheelchair, has been refused a new Blue Badge by Norfolk County Council after holding one for three years. The council said his application did not include enough medical evidence about his walking ability; Ward and his daughter say the decision has left him facing stress and difficulty travelling.
Ward says he no longer sees doctors regularly since being fitted with a prosthetic leg and has not been told what further evidence to provide. His daughter says the council questioned whether he might have a “spring leg” and be able to run a marathon. The council says applicants, including those whose badges are expiring, must provide evidence of their walking difficulties under Department for Transport guidance.
- Norfolk refused a new Blue Badge for 71-year-old amputee Nigel Ward.
- The council says his application lacked evidence of his walking ability.
- Ward says he has not been told what further proof to provide.
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A Blue Badge is a UK parking permit for people whose disability makes walking difficult, or who meet other eligibility criteria. It allows the holder to park closer to some destinations, helping with journeys such as shopping or medical appointments.
Local councils assess applications using national guidance, which can include evidence about how far and how well a person can walk. A prosthetic leg may affect someone’s mobility in different ways, so an amputation alone does not automatically settle whether they qualify.
The permit can make it easier for disabled people to travel independently or with support. Applicants and councils may therefore need to establish what evidence best describes a person’s day-to-day walking ability.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ward’s case is that refusing a badge despite his amputation, wheelchair use and previous eligibility places an unfair burden on him, especially when he says he was not told what evidence would satisfy the council. A fair process should account for people who may not have regular medical appointments and give clear guidance before access to travel is disrupted.
The case against
The council’s case is that badges are awarded under common criteria and applicants must provide current evidence of how their mobility affects walking, including when renewing an existing badge. Requiring that evidence can support consistent decisions and ensure badges go to people who meet the rules, rather than relying on diagnosis or past eligibility alone.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Wheelchair-bound amputee, 71, with one leg is told he must supply more proof before he gets a blue parking badge”.