West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper is very concerned about Lancashire County Council’s Blue Badge scheme.

And the MP says she's been inundated with constituents reporting major issues regarding their applications for blue badges, including renewals.

Some examples include constituents waiting six weeks or more for a response despite being told that applications would be dealt with in four weeks.

One lady who struggles with arthritis has had her blue badge renewal refused, this coming as a result of the lady no longer making appointments at the hospital after two years of no progress in alleviating her pain.

Another lady has had her badge rescinded after 20 years, while one gentleman has been given conflicting information having initially been approved pending the submission of his photo to then be told the application is on hold pending the submission of further medical evidence.

Further concerns have been raised over the online application system, with some residents not having access to the IT required and some struggling with operating the system and uploading the necessary documentation and photos.

Yesterday, Cooper told QLocal: "What I am hearing from residents is much dissatisfaction with the current application process for the blue badge scheme.

“Some residents are finding their blue badges taken off them or not being renewed after many years without clear explanation and others now being given the run around by Lancashire County Council.

“The Government changes to the scheme were instituted after the 2010 General Election when the Tories took over, so any changes resulting would have already been in place so I don’t know why the sudden burst of refusals.

“This situation is bad enough as it is, but when it is added on top of an online system which many of the applicants struggle to use, some don’t even have IT and internet access, then it becomes an absolute nightmare.

“The bottom line is that many of the people who are forced to or feel the need to apply for a blue badge are often our most vulnerable, be they the elderly or the disabled, and the council needs to ensure the resources are in place to deliver a fair, and prompt service.

“For many of these people, the blue badge is not just a parking permit but is there way of ensuring they don’t become isolated within their communities, it’s their access to food shopping, it’s their access to doctors and hospitals.

“I have written to Lancashire County Council calling for them to ensure the blue badge scheme is fully resourced and sort the many issues my residents are reporting.”