Hilary and Steven Rose 

• YOUR report (Blocked roads infringe the rights of older residents – couple claim, November 27), rather misses the point – the issue is not primarily about age but indirect discrimination against Blue Badge (BB) holders.

These do not have to be elderly but they do have to have “protected characteristics’ to be eligible for a BB.

The disabled person is the “holder;” they may not be able to drive – someone else, usually a family member with a car, does the driving.

Under equality legislation disabled people, including BB holders, are protected against “indirect discrimination,” and this was reinforced by a duty laid on local authorities by the transport secretary earlier this year when the Low Traffic Neighbourhood project was launched.

Grant Shapps informed local authorities that they may not – except in very special situations – worsen the situation for BB holders even during temporary works.

We live in Lloyd Square just below the bollards which permit only emergency vehicles to go through the camera-controlled ANPR traffic lane into Amwell Street. My situation and that of my disabled neighbour, both BB holders, has been worsened by Islington’s people-friendly streets.

The PFS speaks of such closures and detours as causing “inconvenience” to drivers. It’s rather more than that for me. Before I became disabled I could walk to my GP in about four minutes.

Before PFS closed access to Amwell Street, on a bad day I could drive round in about the same time; now I will have to make a long detour via the often congested King’s Cross Road and Rosebery Avenue.

There was no consultation with BB holders in advance; all that we got was 10 days’ notice that the bollards were to be installed. I wrote to our councillors; one had been in an accident, one telephoned apologising but had personal problems and the third didn’t have the grace to reply.

We asked for advice from the Equality and Advisory Support Service, which advised us to talk to the council, suggesting, if it was possible a simple and practical solution.

We did so, asking Richard Watts as leader and Rowena Champion, as lead councillor for PFS if they would use the ANPR system to let Islington BB holders use the emergency lane. Rowena took the trouble to visit and saw for herself the difficulties. But the council will not move an inch.

Why not? Transport for London uses ANPR to let BB holders freely cross the congestion zone. How come Grant Shapps is more concerned to protect the rights of BB holders than our Labour council with its massive majority?

STEVEN ROSE,
WC1