The Blue Badge service in Pembrokeshire is set to improve early next year, giving its 3,000 users greater choice and options. The Blue (formerly Orange) Badge scheme provides a national arrangement of on-street parking concessions enabling people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers to park close to their destinations. This follows work carried out by both Pembrokeshire County Council and PIPPA - Physically Impaired People of Pembrokeshire Association - in the wake of a nationwide study commissioned by the Department of Health. PIPPA is run by the disabled to provide information, advice and support for the disabled, their families and carers and has previously administered the scheme north of the Milford Haven waterway with the Council managing the remainder of the County. As from March 31, all applications for a Blue Badge or a renewal badge can be completed over the telephone with the county council's contact centre on 01437 764551. Customers will have the option of applying for their Blue Badge at the same time as enquiring about, or requesting, other services available from the council. The contact centre can be used as a one-stop shop and will be open from 8 am to 6 pm each weekday and 9 am to 12 noon on a Saturday. When an application has been approved, customers will be able to collect their badge from any of the county council's customer service centres which are located at Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock. These centres are open from 9 am to 5 pm each weekday. Prior arrangement as to which centre is chosen will not be necessary. To ensure that all county council staff working at the contact centre and the customer service centres fully understand the process for the Blue Badge service, PIPPA has agreed to assist in the authority's staff training programme which will take place from March. After more than a decade of providing an excellent service on behalf of the county council, PIPPA will continue to provide the Blue Badge service from the Coach House in Haverfordwest until Saturday, March 29, with the improved service coming into effect two days later on the March 31. These changes will enable PIPPA to strengthen further the wheelchair service and information service that it provides to all people with a disability in Pembrokeshire. And because of the information service, PIPPA will continue to research into, and have up to date information on, all disability matters including Blue Badges which will be available to anyone on request. Said Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet member for the elderly and infirm, Clr. David Wildman: "The county council appreciates the way in which the Blue Badge Service has been provided by PIPPA during the last 11 years. "The commitment from the volunteers at PIPPA ensured that the service was available at all times to the public. The partnership approach to implementing the above changes will enable the new service to progress even further."