ACCESS TO THE BLUE BADGE SCHEME
This is a parking concession scheme designed to help people with either severe mobility problems, registered blind or severe disabilities in both upper limbs by allowing them to park close to shops, public buildings and any other places you may wish to visit. A car displaying a blue badge should not be towed away or wheel clamped if it is displaying a current blue badge. The badge does not apply to parking on private roads though.
Where can you park?
The scheme allows cars displaying a blue badge by a disabled person as either a driver or passenger to park:
- Without charge or time limit at street parking meters and in pay and display meters
- Without time limit in streets where otherwise waiting is allowed for limited periods only
- For a maximum of 3 hrs in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or without any time limit in Scotland, on single or double yellow lines.
- This is providing that the disabled person actually leaves the vehicle and the car is not causing an obstruction.
- The scheme applies throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the exception of the city of London.
Do you qualify?
- Do you receive the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance?
- Do you receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement?
- Do you use a motor vehicle supplied by a government health department?
- Are you Registered Blind?
- Do you drive regularly and have a severe disability in both arms so that you cannot turn a steering wheel by hand?
- Do you have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking?
- Do you have a small child under two who has significant health care needs requiring access to heavy or emergency equipment?
Congestion Charging Exemption
Exemption from congestion charging in central London is available for Blue badge Holders, for an initial £10 administration fee if you apply to the Congestion Charging office. Vehicles with an exempt disabled class road tax disc are automatically exempt (providing the vehicle is registered at DVLA in Swansea).
Applying for a Blue Badge Parking Permit
Your local authority is responsible for issuing Blue Badge parking permits and can be contacted for more information. The following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more and/or apply online www.direct.gov.uk
NB If you have any difficulties accessing a Blue Badge or if it has been refused, please contact the Service Development Manager at the Dystonia Society on 0845 458 6299 who may be able to help you.
Important Note
The contents of these pages are provided only as information and are in no way intended to replace the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. The Society strongly advises anyone viewing this material to seek qualified medical advice on all matters relating to the treatment and management of any form of medical condition mentioned. Furthermore, rapid advances in medicine may cause information contained here to become outdated after some months.