No sympathy from official over badge

Letter: Two years ago, my 80-year-old wife was in hospital, close to death, and after contracting MRSA is now disabled, walking with a stick, and is a member of the Blue Badge scheme.

Recently in town, my son parked his car in a designated disabled parking bay. My wife placed the wallet in the correct position but, in being assisted from the car, overlooked opening it to display the Blue Badge.

On returning to the car, the enforcement officer had just issued a penalty notice. On examination, he confirmed the badge was in order but had no authority to cancel. A Department for Transport booklet states that officers have been made aware of the needs of disabled people and have been asked to think about those needs when inspecting Blue Badges.

In view of my wife's age and the circumstances, I hoped an appeal would receive a favourable response. Not so. Rebekah King, parking services administrator, reminded her that, as they say in criminal jargon, she "has previous", a penalty notice having been issued due to the badge being displayed the wrong side up. On this occasion, the charge was cancelled.

So my wife's offence was that in a period of 15 months, she had two momentary lapses of memory, which is quite common in old age. Her appeal was dismissed.

Parking services is run by the council, and I believe that the voters who put them in power would expect its administrators to act with sympathy and understanding when dealing with its most vulnerable senior and disabled citizens. They also have a vote.

D Bailey, Bramstead Avenue, Compton, Wolverhampton.