00:00Kent Online launched a blue badge battle in March this year after receiving a flurry of emails from readers with life-altering conditions who'd experienced difficulties getting hold of a badge.
00:09Eight months later, Kent County Council have said it will not change the strict eligibility process to get the badge.
00:14But for people like Ray from Bortum-on-Chelsea, who has been fighting prostate cancer since the pandemic, daily life is constantly disrupted.
00:21Obviously, you have a biopsy, which in itself is very painful. That leads to some side effects, which means that, you know, really you have to be near a toilet because, you know, obviously the urge to go is very quick.
00:37Sometimes it might be that you have 15 seconds to get from a feeling to actually, you know, so it can be difficult to manage.
00:46I think the main thing is that problem in terms of making sure it's almost like the mental anguish and concern and anxiety.
00:55You know, you're thinking about the problem before it occurs and that adds to the whole difficulty.
01:01He just wants to use spaces like this one just behind me here, outside the Odeon in Maidstone.
01:06He says he loves the cinema but hasn't been able to go through being too nervous about where he'd be able to park if he was to visit.
01:12I tested how long it would take Ray to walk from the nearest general available parking space to the cinema in Maidstone had he wished to visit.
01:20While there were two blue badge spots right outside, the nearest available spot lunchtime on a weekday was 100 metres away.
01:27While not a huge difference, it can mean boatloads more stress for people like Ray.
01:31For me, it's all about, you know, I intend to work as long as possible because I enjoy keeping busy.
01:35I think it just makes things like, you know, meeting people, going to appointments, you know, the planning, it would just be simpler because I know that it would be easier.
01:45Whereupon now I have to really think about where can I park, you know, how can I manage that?
01:49Maidstone and Mauling MP Helen Grant wrote to the Transport Secretary and Minister for Disability and Social Security in March last year.
01:56I know that cancer can be mentally and physically debilitating.
02:03I had major surgery in the form of a mastectomy and some abdominal surgery as well.
02:08And it was very difficult to move around and walk.
02:12And lots of people as well, you know, in addition to major surgery, they also have radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is completely draining.
02:20And I think anything that we can do to help people to be mobilised and to access goods and services while they're going through these difficulties is important.
02:32With Kent County Council maintaining they will not be changing the eligibility process, Kent Online's blue badge battle rages on.
02:39You can sign the petition on the Kent Online website.
02:41Chloe Brewster from KMTV in Boughton, Monchelsea.
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