A DISABLED war veteran whose parking concession badge was withdrawn after nine years has had it reinstated thanks to the Advertiser.

Richard Lane, 83 (pictured), was horrified when he was deemed no longer eligible for a blue parking badge, despite suffering from osteoarthritis and being the sole carer of his disabled wife.

"I need a blue badge so I can park my car as close as I can to where I have to walk to," explained Mr Lane, of Abberley Close, Church Hill.

Last Monday, the county council changed the location of its blue badge service department to Redditch Town Hall.

But when Mr Lane took his parking badge application form to the new department the following day, the former soldier with the Royal Engineers was told he would need a doctor's note to prove his disabilities.

He returned last Wednesday, prepared for staff to phone his surgery but this time, he was told he was not eligible for a badge because he does not claim high dependency benefits.

"It is diabolical," he said.

The Advertiser contacted the county council last Thursday and by Saturday, Mr Lane had received a letter of apology and the offer of a new blue badge.

A spokeswoman for the council explained: "Blue Badges are not renewed automatically. Service users need to reapply every three years and this is because not everyone using the service needs to do so for life.

"In some cases, the person's mobility improves and they no longer need to receive privilege parking. Therefore, proof of your disability is required, as stated on the application form.

"In Mr Lane's case, he did not wait to complete the whole of his application form and so he could not be given a blue badge.

"We cannot rely on the opinion of the customer service advisers as to whether an applicant is eligible for the service or not, the appropriate paperwork and checks need to be done when spending public money."