SCOTTISH rugby legend Doddie Weir is fronting a campaign to ensure people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) have automatic access to the Blue Badge parking scheme.
The scheme was extended in 2017 to include carers and relatives of people with conditions such as dementia, autism and Down’s Syndrome, but not those with MND.
Campaigners want the Scottish Government to change the criteria for a Blue Badge to allow those who live with MND automatic access to parking spaces for people with disabilities, rather than having to go through the lengthy assessment process.
Weir said the disease was so aggressive that many people were no longer able to drive by the time they were finally given a badge.
READ MORE: Rugby fan creates portrait of Doddie Weir out of stamps
“Motor Neurone Disease is unpredictable,” said Weir. “It can be fiercely aggressive and a third of those who receive this terrible diagnosis die within a year and more than a half within two years of receiving this devastating news.
“I have been determined to maintain a level of independence and I want to be out and about, seeing my sons play rugby at weekends, helping with the work of My Name’s Doddie Foundation and living my life to the full. But as time goes on, like fellow sufferers of MND, this becomes more difficult.
“Not everyone has six months to wait for the Blue Badge system to kick in. Fortunately there are not too many of us in this exclusive club but I believe everyone who is diagnosed with MND should automatically be entitled to a Blue Badge. This will enable families to live a dignified and as full a life as possible while coping with this terrible disease.”
Around 230,000 people in Scotland hold a Blue Badge, allowing them to park for free and normally without time limit. Around 75% of badge holders say they would go out less often if they didn’t have one.
Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire said she is supporting the campaign after some of her constituents told her of their difficulties. She said: “Given the nature of MND, people can suddenly require extra support at short notice, and the extension of the Blue Badge Scheme would be one way in which a simple change could make a huge impact.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here