Reader's Letter: Disabled wife still waiting for Blue Badge renewal after three months

We applied for a renewal to the Department for Transport and received an email from them on 07/02/2024 saying that the application had been forwarded to LBTH.

After a couple of months I contacted LBTH to try and find out where our application was, but could not get hold of anyone from the Parking and Mobility Services Services, even when being transferred from the Parking Permits Dept’. (Their answerphone said ‘try again later, and later, and later, and …………..’)

However, as the replacement badge had not been received by 29/04/2024 I visited the LBTH Town Hall and was advised that the renewal application had been received, but there was a ‘backlog’ and that applications received in mid January were still being worked on.

I’m therefore wondering why Blue Badge renewal applications sent to the LBTH by the Department for Transport for processing for badges expiring on 30/04/2024 have not been processed after 3 months?

This is most disturbing bearing in mind the Department for Transport website gives applicants the information that processing could take 6 – 8 weeks.

I have raised a LBTH complaint (Ref No. 51916067) regarding this on 06/05/2024 and received an email from Parking and Mobility Services that my complaint is currently being investigated under Stage 1 of the Complaints Procedure and I will be replied to by 4th June.

However as my wife is heavily reliant on using her blue badge I replied on 08/05/2024 asking if the renewal of the badge could be expedited.

As of today (12/05/2025) I have not had a reply.

I have today also raised this with my local councillor (Rachel Blake) and will let you all know if/when I get any help from Rachel.

Sincerely,

Ian M.