CHANGES to the way blue disabled parking badges are distributed could cause serious difficulties for people in Malvern, a user of the scheme has warned.

Liz Docker, of Frederick Road, was taken aback when she went to the Hub at Malvern Library only to be told that she could not renew her badge on the spot.

The Government has made changes in the scheme in a bid to crack down on fraud and misuse.

Instead of being renewed locally, the badges now have to be sent out from a central office.

But Mrs Docker is concerned that the Government has not done enough to tell people about the new system.

She said: “My husband went back with all the forms and the passport photo and he was told it will take up to 10 working days to arrive. I just think the Government could have done a lot more to tell people about these changes.

“Luckily it hasn’t inconvenienced me too much, but some people might have serious difficulties.”

She is now urging fellow blue badge holders to make sure they renew well in advance.

Her call has been echoed by George Waugh, of Malvern and District Age UK.

He said: “Abuse of the system has to be tackled, so badge holders have to be aware of when their badges run out and take steps to renew them in advance. As always, we at Age UK will be happy to help people fill in their forms.”

Malvern’s MP Harriett Baldwin said: “The system has been put on a national footing because unfortunately some people were abusing the system and applying in more than one local authority area.

“I hope that after the initial teething problems are sorted out that the system becomes more convenient for people with disabilities and that there is less abuse of these important local amenities.”

The fee has also increased from £2 to £10 for a three-year badge. This is the first increase in almost 30 years.

The increase is described as necessary to cover the additional costs to produce and administer the new-style badge.

To find out more, log onto worcestershire.gov.uk/bluebadge.

There are more than 4,300 blue badge holders in the Malvern Hills district.