A DISABLED man whose parking permit was stolen says he is housebound while he waits for it to be replaced.

But his case could help the scores of people in the borough who use blue badges.

Harry Ewins, of Old Station Road, Hayes, had his blue badge taken while he was parked in Albert Road on Monday last week.

He immediately applied for a replacement, but was told by Hillingdon Council he must wait three weeks until it comes through.

The council now says it ‘should be about a week’.

The 71-year-old says he was told by the council to park in normal bays in the meantime, but he says they are too far away from the places he needs to visit, such as his bank and Harefield Hospital, where he has an appointment this week.

Mr Ewins suffers from breathing problems and cannot walk long distances. He said: “So now I’m stuck in, staring at the telly and looking out the window.

“Why it takes two to three weeks I do not know.

“I feel like I am being fobbed off.”

Since January, new legislation has meant disabled badges are now produced by a contractor rather than individual councils. The measures were brought in to try to reduce fraud.

Three weeks is the maximum waiting time and Mr Ewins could receive the badge in just seven days.

He said: “There must be others that this has happened to who want to know what’s going on.

“It’s bad enough it being stolen in the first place.

“Why can’t I get a temporary one or something?”

Nigel Dicker, the council’s deputy director of public safety and environment, said: “Mr Ewins should receive his replacement badge in about a week.

“Due to the rise in blue badge theft and forgery, badges are now issued by an external contractor as part of a national change implemented by the government.

“Hillingdon’s cabinet member for transport, Councillor Keith Burrows, will review our blue badge policy and look at how the council can make it easier for people who have theirs stolen.”