Amersham and Chesham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan has welcomed proposed changes to the blue badge scheme to help people with non-visible disabilities.

From August 30 later this year, councils across the country will be issuing blue badges to people who suffer from non-visible disabilities which affect their mobility.

Dame Cheryl Gillan said of the changes: “I know that this will help many autistic people and others who at the moment are not able to get out in ways that other people take for granted. It’s a very welcome change.

“The Government is providing £1.7 million in funding to our local councils to enable this change to go ahead. This fund will be reviewed after one year. A change like this does need careful implementation because there is understandably pressure on parking spaces.”

“So a review is going ahead over the summer about the enforcement of Blue Badge, to look at people’s understanding of the purpose of the scheme, the circumstances in which badges can or cannot be used, and how we could look at how the scheme can be enforced so that appropriate action can be taken to prevent its abuse.”