Blue Badge Scheme

Note: if you need to call us about a Blue Badge: in order to maximise the time available to process applications, our phone lines are open between 9am and 12 noon. Please do not ring outside of these hours.

Apply for a Blue Badge at GOV.UK now

What is the Blue Badge scheme?

The Blue Badge scheme is a national scheme which gives parking concessions for people with certain disabilities, to park nearer to their destination.

Who is it for?

• People aged over 2 who have a severe permanent walking disability.
• People who are registered blind.
• People who get the Higher Rate of Mobility part of Disability Living Allowance.
• People who get 8 or more points under the "moving around descriptor" for the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
• People who get a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement.
• People who have received a lump sum benefit under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (compensation) scheme within tariff levels 1-8 (inclusive) and the Secretary of State certifies that they have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
• People who have a severe disability in both arms, regularly drive a vehicle and are unable to operate or have considerable difficulty operating all, or some, types of parking meter.
• Children under the age of 3 with specific medical conditions.

'Hidden' disabilities - a change for 2019

• ADHD
• Autism/Asperger's
• Complex mental health disorders
• Irritable Bowel diseases
• Amnesia
• Crohn's Disease
• Epilepsy
• Lupus
• Anxiety
• ME
• Huntington's Disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Blue Badges for organisations

To apply for an organisational Blue Badge, contact us on 01274 438723. The team will advise you and, if appropriate, send you an application form for you to complete.

Is there a charge?

There is a charge of £10. If your application is successful the team will contact you asking for payment.

How do I apply?

Before you apply make sure you read the information above about who blue badges are for.

Apply for a Blue Badge at GOV.UK now

If you apply online at GOV.UK, you will still need to provide our Transport and Education Team with any relevant documentation requested.

Please note, it is essential that all the information requested is provided at the time you apply.

The online form linked above is the recognised government website for Blue Badge Applications. There are other websites which are not affiliated with any government agency or the Blue Badge Improvement Service that charge a fee for providing something described as an assistance service. We do not recommend you use any website other than the official one above. If you want any advice or are unsure about making an application, please call us on 01274 438723.

If you cannot give sufficient medical evidence of your disability we may ask you to have an Independent Medical Assessment.

Where can I use a Blue Badge?

• The scheme allows parking concessions such as parking on yellow lines for up to 3 hours or in special disabled person's parking bays.
• All Councils and many private companies have parking concessions in their car parks for Blue Badge holders.
• The scheme also allows concessionary parking in several European countries - check with the country first. There are no arrangements with any country outside the European Union.

What do I do if I have a Blue Badge that is no longer needed?

You might have a badge you no longer need if:

• your badge has expired
• the medical conditions of the badge holder have changed
• the badge holder has died
• the badge holder no longer wants or needs the badge for whatever reason.

If a Blue Badge is no longer needed, you must destroy it and then dispose of it.

Blue Badge Fraud

Find out about Blue Badge Misuse and Fraud and how to report it.