Blue Badge Battle: KentOnline campaign nominated for national Making a Difference Award run by News Media Association
KentOnline's campaign calling for a fairer Blue Badge system has been shortlisted in the national Making a Difference awards.
From agenda-setting investigations, crucial campaigns and serious scoops, the scheme recognises the public's favourite campaigns from the past year.
Led by the News Media Association during Journalism Matters week, the awards aim to highlight the immense value journalism creates in society.
KentOnline's campaign was prompted by you - the reader - after dozens came forward to share how the current Blue Badge system is letting you down.
One of those was Martin White, a 79-year-old man with leukaemia, a tumour and heart problems, who was refused a badge despite needing a stairlift and mobility scooter
Another, Sandy Burr, was turned down even after a cancer diagnosis, a toe amputation, and blood clots in her lungs that severely limited her ability to walk.
Meanwhile, dad-of-two Adrian Pitts was on dialysis for 18 months while waiting for a kidney transplant when his application for a Blue Badge was refused.
We've shared your stories and called for change, and so far, our Blue Badge Battle has made it all the way to Westminster.
From today, the public can now vote for KentOnline's campaign to win the Making a Difference Award - click here to vote.
We know there are hundreds of other people across the country, and in Kent and Medway, who would benefit from a short-term temporary Blue Badge while facing some of the most difficult moments of their life, and KentOnline will continue campaigning on your behalf.
After discovering cancer patients were being let down by the current system, we got in contact with Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant (Con), who has had her own personal battle with cancer, to see if she would support a campaign to make the system fairer.
She agreed, and in tandem with KentOnline, Helen and MPs Tris Osborne (Lab) and Mike Martin (Lib Dem) have spearheaded the campaign, calling for changes to the Blue Badge system.
The campaign went on to receive the backing of every single MP in Kent - that's 18 MPs.
Despite Medway Council agreeing to support the implementation of a discretionary scheme, Kent County Council (KCC) has ruled out supporting a campaign which aims to make it easier for people with time-limited conditions to access a Blue Badge.
But the fight continues.
Since then, campaigners have been working to make changes from the top down.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Richard Holden, and the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander recently met to discuss the Blue Badge campaign.
In response, Mrs Alexander explained officials would be reviewing and updating advice to provide clearer, more practical guidance on how local authorities can use existing powers to provide additional support to residents who are facing temporary or fluctuating mobility challenges.
Voting for the awards closes at 5pm on Thursday, November 6, and the winners will be announced on Friday, November 7.