ROYAL Marine amputee Ben McBean was yesterday stripped of his blue badge — and fumed: “I don’t understand how much more disabled I need to be.”
The Afghanistan veteran was hailed by Prince Harry as a “real hero” after losing an arm and leg in 2008.
5
5
But council officials have ruled he does not meet requirements for priority parking aid, despite only having two limbs, one of which is currently broken.
The ex-commando, 36, told The Sun: “If you’re a double amputee, you have a disability, no question about it.
“The badge had been really useful for me to use, especially when I needed to visit the hospital.”
Ben, who is nursing a broken ankle after a fall on Remembrance Sunday, went on: “I’m 37 next week.
“I’m not getting any younger.
“My limbs will start getting knackered.
“To have the option taken away from me to get the help I need, it’s wrong.
“I’m walking round with two limbs and one’s broken, so what happens if I fall and smack my head because I have to walk longer?”
Ben, of Plymouth, was given a blue badge when he returned home after being blown up by the Taliban — 16 years ago today.
It was revoked a year later after he ran the London Marathon on a prosthetic leg.
He finally had it reinstated in 2021 thanks to local MP Johnny Mercer.
Ben applied to renew it but the bid was rejected yesterday by Plymouth City Council.
It told him his disability living allowance payments are not in a high enough band to qualify.
Ben said he was also insulted by the suggestion he can pay £10 to reapply.
He went on: “I won’t be bothering.
“When you fill out the form, there isn’t a spot I could write my injuries in.
“If I could actually tell them I’m a double amputee, it’d be far easier.
“Instead, it’s a series of boxes to do with allowances, and I don’t tick the right boxes clearly, or didn’t meet the right criteria.
“So it is stupid.”
The council and the Office for Veterans Affairs were approached for comment.
5
5
