If you are a blue badge holder, you can apply for an advisory Disabled Persons' Parking Bay.

Your application is made to our Social Work Department, who assess your disability and make a recommendation. The application is then passed to our Roads Service for approval. The application process is usually completed within one month (two weeks for Social Work and two weeks for Roads). It can take up to another four weeks for the thermoplastic markings to be installed on the ground.

The criteria used for assessing applications are as follows:

  • The applicant should be a severely disabled person.

  • The applicant must be in possession of a current Blue Badge.

  • The applicant must be the driver of the vehicle, which should be registered at the address where the bay is to be marked.

  • A difficulty in parking must be identified which would be relieved by the installation of the advisory disabled bay.

  • It is not possible to park the car off the road, adjacent to the house in a driveway or other hardstanding area.

  • The installation of the advisory parking bay must not compromise the general requirements of safe and efficient traffic management in the locality.

As there may sometimes be exceptional circumstances, the following two additional criteria may also be taken into account:

  • The applicant is a passenger (with a blue badge) who cannot be left unattended either inside or outside the home whilst the driver parks the car.

  • The applicant is a passenger (with a blue badge) and it is not possible for a vehicle to stop safely to pick up or set down the applicant unless a bay is provided: e.g. when double parking would raise concerns on road safety.

The following situations outline where the provision of any advisory bay is not permitted or is unlikely to be permitted:

  • Households without a car: for example, where the car used by the applicant is owned by an individual who resides elsewhere.

  • Roads having a no-waiting order e.g. yellow lines on the carriageway.

  • Where the bay requested would be on a busy main road, close to a junction or within a turning area.

  • Where the applicant is the holder of a discretionary Blue Badge which is close to its expiry date and may not be renewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How long does the blue badge/disabled parking badge last?
  • A: Your parking badge lasts for three years, unless your award for Disability Living Allowance is for a shorter period. If this is the case, you can reapply for a new badge when your Disability Living Allowance ends.
  • Q: How long will it take for me to receive my Blue Badge?
  • A: If you are entitled to a badge and you return a correctly completed application form to our Customer Services staff, we will issue a badge within five working days of receiving your application. If we cannot make a decision on your badge award within five workings days, Customer Services will contact you within five working days and tell you what will happen next. If you currently hold a blue badge, our Customer Services staff will send you a renewal form one month before your current badge expires.
  • Q: How much does it cost for a blue badge/disabled parking badge?
  • A: A blue badge or disabled parking badge is free of charge. However an administration charge of £2.00 should be enclosed with your application.
  • Q: What is the Blue Badge scheme?
  • A:

    The Blue Badge scheme is a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. It also applies to registered blind people, and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.

    The scheme allows badge holders to park close to their destination, but the national concessions apply only to on-street parking. When you display your Blue Badge, you can park:

    1. free of charge and for as long as you need to at parking meters, and where other people can only park for a limited time
    2. for up to three hours on single yellow lines or double yellow lines, depending on certain rules and restrictions