The intransigent attitudes of both the city and county councils towards the disabled does not end with blocked access to local businesses (No access, Oxford Mail, March 9).

It appears that disabled drivers are also not catered for, as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

There are less than adequate disabled parking spaces allotted conveniently near to services and businesses, and the blue badge scheme is not always applied as it was intended.

MP Norman Baker is trying desperately to standardise the scheme’s rules as they vary according to authorities’ own interpretations of what is and what is not allowed.

I found to my cost yesterday that the blue badge scheme in operation in Witney varies considerably to that in Oxford.

Another major factor being ignored is the state of the pavements – some of which are riddled with obstacles. Footpath maintenance all too often seems to take second place to road maintenance which, in itself, is way too little too late.

Adrian Taylor, Thames Court, Eynsham