I TAKE S Hopwood's remarks on orange badge holders with a tiny pinch of salt, for as a widower whose wife was wheelchair-bound, I can speak with experience on the problems of orange badge parking.

It is stated that homes for the elderly have orange badges exhibited on their transport vehicles.

Yes, this does apply, but not to builders' wagons with two or three burly workmen laughing and joking as the wagon is parked with complete immunity.

I believe a badge should be issued to a person only if the transport has a maximum alighting height, say 12 inches, and not the ridiculous height of some modern vehicles that require a parachute for passengers to reach the pavement.

No one can convince me that the occupants of such transport are deemed to be so unwell that it warrants an orange badge.

The parking places painted with a wheelchair sign should be only for people who are wheelchair-bound or need mechanical assistance to be able to move.

Too often, I have seen young people run from the parked car making it obvious that the orange card is either forged or acquired illegally.

FRANCIS CROSS (Mr), Royds Street, Accrington.

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