Blue Badge Scheme

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either  as drivers or as passengers.  The concessions only apply to on-street parking and include free use of parking meters and pay-and-display bays.

Badgeholders may also be  exempt from limits on parking times imposed on others and can park for up to three hours on yellow lines (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading or other restrictions).

The badges can be used throughout the UK and while travelling abroad within the European Union ( EU ) and in some other European countries. The Blue Badge scheme does not apply to off-street car parks, private roads or at most airports.

 

 

 

Do you qualify for a badge?

 You may qualify if you:

• are receiving the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
• are receiving a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
• use a motor vehicle supplied by a government health department
• are a registered blind person
• have severe disability in both upper limbs, drive a motor vehicle regularly but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob
• have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

Where to Apply

If you think you may be entitled to a badge you should apply to

Cheshire County Council
Social Services
PO Box314
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK10 1XA

Telephone: 01625 667946 or 0845 1133311

You can download or compete an online application on the Cheshire County Council Website at Cheshire County Council Social Services Website (external link)

Where can I park?

The Directgov Website (external link) offers an interactive map of Chester to show you the locations of parking bays for disabled users

Misuse of the scheme

It is an offence to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a Blue Badge parking bay. If you spot misuse you should report it to a traffic warden (or parking enforcement officer), the local police or Cheshire County Council (who are responsible for issuing badges) or you can visit the Baywatch Campaign website (external link) for more information on how to help protect disabled parkers rights.

Further information

Details of your rights under the scheme, as well as some restrictions are contained in the DETR Blue Badge Scheme Advisory Leaflet 

Further information can be found on the Direct Gov's Blue Badge Parking Scheme webpages (external link)

Links

• Instructional letter about how to apply (external link)
• Blue Badge Application Form   (external link)