Cars parking and driving

What is the Blude Badge Scheme?

The Blude Badge Scheme gives parking concessions to certain disabled people by allowing them to park close to shops, public buildings and other places they may wish to visit.

The scheme allows a vehicle displaying a valid badge in the correct place and driven by a disabled person, or with a disabled person as passenger, to park without charge or time limit in streets whether or not waiting is generally allowed.  In England and Wales there is a time limit of 3 hours whereas in Scotland there is no time limit.

How do you get a Blue Badge?

To qualify for a Blue Badge there are a few criteria you will need to fit into, you must be:

• aged two or over

• receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance

• getting war pensioners' mobility supplement, or using a vehicle supplied by a government department or getting a grant towards running your own car

• registered blind

• drive regularly, and have a severe disability in both arms so that you cannot turn a steering wheel by hand

• have a permanent and substantial difficulty in walking.

What can you do if your application for a Blue Badge is refused?

If your local authority refuses to issue a badge, you have no formal right of appeal. You can however, see if your local councillor or local disability group or advice agency can help change their mind.