AN OTLEY charity that provides a transport service for the elderly has been told it ‘doesn’t qualify’ for a disabled parking badge.

The shock decision is now being challenged by Otley Action for Older People and councillors, who have branded it “barmy”.

The charity, whose local services include door-to-door minibus transport, has used a Blue Badge for years.

But Leeds City Council has told the group its renewal bid has been unsuccessful due to national guideline changes.

Charity project manager, Sue Trainor, points out that the minibus was actually purchased, VAT free, as a disabled passenger vehicle.

She said: “For us the Blue Badge is vital as we work with some of the frailest and most vulnerable adults who we pick up from home.

“This ruling could potentially put these older people at risk if they are unable to access transport.

“The council are saying we should ask individuals to bring their Blue Badges but that’s not practical, and will create extra work for our volunteer drivers.

“We are appealing but that could take some time - our badge runs out in a fortnight.”

Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) is urging Leeds to reverse the decision.

He said: “It is completely barmy!

“It can’t be the intention of these rules to discriminate against voluntary organisations whose members give up their spare time to help our more vulnerable neighbours get out and about.

“The work required to process one Blue Badge application for an organisation, where most of the people they transport have mobility needs, has to be far less than that required to process the applications of multiple individuals.

“These are guidelines, not law. Granting these badges is completely at the discretion of the local authority.

“Leeds needs to get some perspective and start treating these applications with common sense.”

Otley Town Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh (Lab, Ashfield), a trustee with the charity, said: “This flies in the face of common sense.

“I am hoping it is just an over-rigorous interpretation of the rules and there can be some flexibility.

“Clearly, if OAOP - and for that matter all of the other Neighbourhood Networks across Leeds with minibuses - are not able to have a Blue Badge it will impact severely on the services we are able to deliver.

“I have been told by so many people that OAOP is a ‘lifeline’ - and our minibus is in daily use.”

A City Council spokesman said: “Due to a change in national policy we are now unable to automatically issue Blue Badges to vehicles as they must now be assigned to individuals.

“We are processing an appeal by OAOP and will look at their individual circumstances before any final decision is made.”