Councillors have voted unanimously to back KentOnline’s Blue Badge Battle campaign.

A motion was put forward at Medway Council’s Full Council meeting last night to support greater flexibility within the parking scheme.

Along with all of Kent’s MPs, we want to ensure people with life-altering but short-term conditions, such as cancer, are able to get badges.

Many across Britain are denied help because their illness or disability is not expected to last three years or more.

The motion was put forward by Cllr David Finch (Ref), who asked the authority to support, in principle, a concessionary parking scheme for people who miss out on Blue Badges; to ask officers to work on a local scheme, and to lobby the government to change legislation.

He said: “Many of you will have seen the KentOnline Blue Badge Battle campaign, which tells powerful, human stories of cancer patients, people recovering from traumatic injuries, residents who can barely walk, or have suffered life-changing accidents.

“These are people who, despite severe mobility challenges, are being told they don’t qualify for a Blue Badge because their condition might not last three years.

“This isn’t about bending the rules or undermining national standards, it’s about recognising a gap in the system. A gap causing unnecessary hardship, anxiety and isolation.”

He added the campaign was already supported by Kent’s 18 MPs, and Medway Council officers were already looking at how a local scheme might work.

The motion received support from all parties represented in the chamber, but an amendment was put forward to make changes in respect to recent developments.

It added that the council welcomed a meeting between Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council and Kent’s MPs to discuss a cross-council boundary solution and a Westminster Hall debate on July 16.

Council leader Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) said the amendment was only to update the motion since it had been submitted last week and his Labour group supported looking at the Blue Badge scheme.

He said: “This is an important campaign and it’s great to see all 18 MPs come together on this issue.

“The conversation is moving to us, possibly having a meeting next week with colleagues from across the political parties and hardworking council officers.

“There are some complications which we need to work through, and that meeting will start the process.”

He added it was important to work together with KCC so all of Kent benefitted from the changes and the system continued after local government reorganisation.

Deputy leader of the Medway Tories, Cllr Gary Hackwell, spoke about his personal experience of his wife’s inability to get a Blue Badge while suffering with cancer.

He said: “She had several appointments at Guy’s Hospital in London. There’s a multi-storey car park adjacent with ground floor parking for Blue Badge holders.

“Unfortunately, my wife did not have a Blue Badge so even though she was terminally ill, I had to park several floors up and wheel her in a wheelchair up and down the ramps vehicles used as the lifts were inoperable.

“Terminally ill people often have to go through lengthy bureaucratic hurdles to prove something which is already devastatingly clear, and their time is limited.

“We should not be forcing them to wait weeks or months for the help they need - compassion should not come with a waiting list.

“At its core, this campaign is about dignity, about recognising the people facing the final stages of life deserve support, not red tape.

“A Blue Badge is not just a piece of plastic; it’s a lifeline.”

Cllr Joanne Howcroft-Scott agreed, saying: “No-one going through the daily struggle of serious medical conditions, whether long-term or time-limited, should have to fight for basic human dignity.

“This isn’t about convenience, it’s about independence and humanity.

“I’ve had countless constituents in Luton and across Medway who have been failed by the current system.

“For many, the Blue Badge is the difference of being able to pick your child up from school, get your medicine from the pharmacy, attend hospital appointments, and simply go to the shops for the essentials.

“It can mean the difference between isolation and participation.”

Councillors supported the updating amendment and unanimously supported the motion.

When the Blue Badge Battle campaign was debated at Westminster Hall earlier this week, the government agreed to meet to discuss possible updates to the policy, with Under-Secretary of State for Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, admitting she is “open to the possibility of change".