Sussex man criticises ‘deplorable’ Blue Badge application wait

A man waiting for a disabled parking Blue Badge says delays to his application have been “deplorable” and mean he can no longer leave his house as much as he used to.

Graham Kifford, 75, from Eastbourne, applied to East Sussex County Council for a Blue Badge in July after suffering spinal injuries but was left waiting more than six months for a decision.

Mr Kifford, who is one of over 15,000 people who have applied for Blue Badges in East Sussex in 2025, called for improvements to the system, fearing waiting times for himself and others could continue to be intolerable.

A council spokesperson apologised for the delay, citing the number of applications and “staffing pressures” for the issues.

Mr Kifford said: “I think it’s deplorable that wait without any information, and the applicant has to make all the going to find out what is happening.

“Getting into town for me is a no-no now. I can’t walk that distance anymore.”

Mr Kifford said he applied for a Blue Badge on 13 July 2024, after suffering spinal injuries and a broken shoulder in falls over the last few years.

In late December, Mr Kifford was told that his application was successful, and he now has his Blue Badge.

Latest government figures from 2023 show about 26,000 people hold valid Blue Badges in East Sussex.

Mr Kifford, who also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and prostate cancer, said not being able to park meant he only now went into Eastbourne for doctor’s appointments.

Sophia Kleanthous, of campaign group Transport for All, said delays such as those experienced by Mr Kifford left disabled drivers “living in their own personal lockdown”.

Ms Kleanthous called for a better, standardised system for dealing with Blue Badge applications to make the process more accessible for disabled people and to combat delays.

An East Sussex County Council spokesperson apologised to Mr Kifford, adding: “We have received more than 15,600 applications for Blue Badges so far this year, some of which will require a full assessment.

“The number of applications and staffing pressures have led to delays, and we are taking measures to address this.”