Richard's good news story of the week involves him helping a local resident receive their new Blue Badge.
"Ms S and her mother, Mrs B from Billericay, came to one of my surgeries after becoming concerned about the expiry of Mrs B’s Blue Badge. For Mrs B, being able to get out and about is incredibly important, and the last thing we wanted to see was her independence restricted or, worse, her becoming housebound.
We contacted Essex County Council straight away to find out what was happening with the application and why there had been a delay. We asked that the situation be treated as a matter of urgency, given the impact it could have on Mrs B’s day-to-day independence. I was delighted when, just two days later, Ms S got back in touch to let us know that her mum had received her new Blue Badge.
Essex Council does send reminders when Blue Badges are approaching their expiry date, but navigating the process can still be challenging for many, particularly without family or friends being able to help with the paperwork. In this case, my team were very happy to help make the process a little smoother and clearer for both Mrs B and Ms S. I hope Essex County Council will take this feedback on board as it reviews its procedures, so that others in a similar position do not face unnecessary delays. We’ve seen increasing numbers of these Blue Badge issues with Essex County Council recently, so I’ve raised it with the Council too as a broader issue too. Most importantly, this was a great result for Mrs B, helping her to retain her independence and continue getting out and about in her community.
So, if you are facing an issue that you are unsure how to resolve, or perhaps you are stuck in organisational delays, please contact me via my website here: https://www.richardholden.org.uk/contact.
Whilst I cannot fix every problem, both my team and I will give it my all to do our best to support you."
