Council criticised about delays in issuing 'lifeline' blue badges across West Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has been criticised for delays in issuing Blue Badges to vulnerable and elderly residents, as new data for 2025 has revealed that the number of refusals has quadrupled and hundreds of applications were overturned at appeal.
Colin, aged 88, from Crick, applied to WNC for a Blue Badge in March last year after he was taken into hospital and left with a mobility problem. He was left waiting almost three months for his badge after his original application was rejected and he was forced to go through an appeal process.
WNC has apologised for delays that impact residents who rely on a Blue Badge and accepted that improvements can be made, but maintained that processing times generally remained within the council’s six to eight week service standard.
The issue was first brought forward in full council in November by Brauston and Crick councillor Rosie Humphreys (Lib Dems), who raised concerns that the process had become more demanding over recent years and was not a straightforward experience for some residents who require a Blue Badge as a “lifeline”.
She said that over a 12-month period, 865 appeals over Blue Badges had been submitted to WNC with a 94 percent success rate.
Colin told the LDRS he was “very surprised” that his initial application, which was submitted with the help of a friend who works as a disability advisor, was rejected.
He said: “I had severe pneumonia and came out [of hospital] with vertigo when I stand. On that basis, I can’t walk very far.
“I couldn’t understand why [the Blue Badge application] was such a strange process, but it took two or three months and it was naturally frustrating.”
According to a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) submitted by the LDRS, the authority received almost 13,000 applications up to the beginning of December last year. Out of those, 8,593 (67 percent) were approved, 2,110 (16 percent) were declined and 2,050 were waiting for a decision.
The number of declined applications has quadrupled since 2024, when just 532 applications were denied out of a total 12,994. WNC said the most common reasons for refusal were insufficient supporting evidence, missed deadlines for supplying additional information, or applications not meeting the Department for Transport (DfT) criteria.
The council explained: “As a result, some applications that may previously have been approved were declined where the required evidence was not provided or eligibility criteria were not met. Renewals are also not automatic and must be reassessed under the latest guidance.
“Appeals are often successful because applicants provide further evidence at that stage which was not included in the original application.”
A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England and must be renewed every three years.
‘It is obvious I am in greater need’
Another resident in the Daventry area, who has asked not to be named, also suffered delays when she submitted for her renewal in September last year and was left waiting three months for a replacement Blue Badge.
She said: “I suffer from Pulmonary Fibrosis, an untreatable, progressive and ultimately fatal disease which causes low blood oxygen and results in my not being able to walk very far.
“As the disease is unavoidably progressive, it is obvious I am in greater need of a [badge] upon every renewal. There were no problems upon renewal in 2022. The service from WNC [in 2025] was unbelievably bad.
“Although I had applied well in time, I was without a Blue Badge for five and a half weeks, which greatly affected my business and social matters.”
The WNC website currently asks residents to apply at least eight weeks before their current badge expires to avoid delays.
A WNC spokesperson said processing times varied throughout the year due to the new guidance being implemented and a technical issue with the DfT’s systems later in the year which created a temporary backlog.
They continued: “Despite this, processing times between June and December generally remained within the council’s six to eight week service standard, with performance improving again toward the end of the year.
“We recognise the impact that delays or refusals can have on residents who rely on a Blue Badge, and we are sorry for the distress this can cause. While we cannot comment on individual cases, we acknowledge the experiences shared and understand how important timely decisions are for maintaining independence.
“Information on the council’s website is reviewed regularly and reflects national GOV.UK guidance, including advice on acceptable evidence and expected timescales. However, we accept that improvements can be made and work is under way to make the process clearer and reduce unnecessary burden on applicants.
“Support is available for those who need help applying, even though applications are now primarily online.”
It added that concerns raised at council about delays and resourcing have been noted, and the service continues to be reviewed.