Bristol resident Roz Hutchings has called on Bristol City Council to consider making permanent exemptions for Blue Badge holders who have to drive into the city centre. It comes after she was charged for failing to apply for a Blue Badge exemption within a day of travelling when she was driving her sister, who has cancer, into Bristol city centre.
But the council said temporary exemptions for Blue Badge holders could not be extended as it would impact the city’s ability to reduce air pollution to legal limits in the shortest possible time as set by national government. Ms Hutchings said her request for permanent exemption for Blue Badge holders has come as a result of her recent charge, which she has since paid.
“I had taken my sister into town and when I tried to activate the Blue Badge exemption a few days later, it would not allow me to do that,” she said. Contacting the council, she was told Blue Badge holders have to activate an exemption by midnight on the same day of travel.
