Wheelchair-bound amputee, 71, with one leg is FINALLY handed blue parking badge - as council criticised for asking him to provide more evidence of his mobility in case he 'could run a marathon'

An OAP with only one leg has won his battle for a blue badge after a council asked him to provide more evidence of his mobility in case he 'could run a marathon'.

Amputee Nigel Ward, 71, was rejected twice for a blue badge renewal despite being approved for one when he lost his left leg three years ago.

Mr Ward, from West Winch near King's Lynn in Norfolk, was asked to submit further medical information since he was recently considered 'independent' and only requires assistance if something was to go wrong with his prosthetic leg or stump.

However, a GP letter would not be accepted and the retired wealth investment manager claimed he was even told by a council worker: 'We don't know that you don't have one of those spring legs and could run a marathon.'

The pensioner said he had applied for the badge after he 'lost confidence' in his prosthetic following a fall in which he broke his femur on his amputated leg. 

Mr Ward has now said he is 'happy and relieved' after his application was approved by Norfolk County Council following an assessment by a physiotherapist 50 miles away.

The council said it had only been following the process set out by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Mr Ward said: 'I'm disappointed it got to this stage. I'm utterly amazed. I really would like to see if there's any way to change the system so renewals can happen automatically.

'I know it would be a mammoth to move but that's what I'd like to do.

'I'd like to see renewals for those whose position won't change.'

Norfolk County Council had questioned the extent of Mr Ward's mobility when his original blue badge expired and said he would have to prove he needed it.

The council said it must follow DfT guidance, which requires applicants to provide up-to-date evidence of mobility difficulties each time they apply.

Mr Ward was on a Caribbean cruise when he 'unexpectedly' had an aneurysm rupture in the back of his knee in 2023.

He was treated on the ship before being airlifted to the Azores, and had an amputation of his leg above the knee due to tissue death.

Mr Ward was cared for under the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he was given a prosthetic leg – and a blue badge.

He uses a wheelchair and prosthetic leg but said he 'lost confidence' in the mobility aid following a fall in which he broke his femur.

Mr Ward added: 'If they [the council] think that a renewal requires the same detail provided at the initial approval, then something must be wholly awry with their processes and record keeping.

'I would recommend that someone trawls through their archives and digs out the original medical evidence I provided only 3 years ago.

'They cannot be serious if this information is not digitalised and immediately available.'