Disabled person's parking bay

If you are a Blue Badge holder, you might be able to get a disabled parking space near your home to make it easier and safer for you to use your vehicle.

Who can apply

You may be eligible if you meet all of the following:

• You hold a valid Blue Badge issued for 3 years
• You live at the address where the bay is requested
• A vehicle registered at your address is used to transport you
• You don’t have access to private parking or other off street parking (for example - driveway, garage, lock-up or hard-standing area)

What we consider

We will assess applications based on:

• Safe and suitable location – the bay must not:
  • Restrict traffic or create safety risks
  • Interfere with traffic calming measures (for example - speed bumps or buildouts)
  • Obstruct visibility at junctions, crossings, or bends
  • Restrict access for emergency or refuse vehicles
  • Block drainage or other road infrastructure                     
• Local demand – if there are already a significant number of disabled bays nearby, your application may be refused
• No alternative location – if no safe and suitable location can be found, the application will be refused

When we can’t provide a bay

We won’t approve a bay if:

• You do not have a vehicle, or the vehicle belongs to someone who does not live with you
• You live in sheltered housing where many residents could request a bay
• The location is on a busy main road, near a junction, or in a turning area
• There are existing parking restrictions (for example - yellow lines)
• You have a temporary or discretionary Blue Badge, or a Blue Badge due to expire within 12 months
• The bay would be unused for long periods
• The location is on private property

Apply

If you meet the criteria above, please complete our disabled person's parking bay application form.

You will need to provide a copy of:

• The driving licence registered at this address
• The vehicle registration document V5C or Motability Scheme lease document (the front page showing the registered address)
• Your valid blue badge (front and back)

If your car was purchased under the Motability Scheme, you can request a copy of your V5C online or by calling the Motability Scheme on 0300 456 4566.

What happens next

We will aim to respond to your application within 4 weeks.

If a suitable location is found, we will mark a courtesy bay. This is not legally enforceable, so anyone can park there.

To make a bay enforceable, we must carry out a legal process called a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). This can take up to 9 months from when we apply for the TRO and includes a public notice in the local paper, allowing people to object. If approved, we will let you know by letter.

Once the TRO is in place:

• The bay becomes enforceable by parking attendants
• The bay is not reserved just for you - anyone with a valid Blue Badge can use it
• You must always display your Blue Badge when parked in the bay

Removal of a disabled person's parking bay

If circumstances change and the disabled person's parking bay is no longer required, you must notify the council immediately, so that it can be removed.

Misuse of disabled person's parking bay

If you believe someone is using a disabled person's parking bay without displaying a valid Blue Badge, please complete our parking enquiry form.

Reminder: Disabled person’s parking bays are not reserved for individual use. Any driver displaying a valid Blue Badge is entitled to use these bays.

Please note that the council will not investigate complaints about other valid Blue Badge holders using a disabled person’s parking bay.

For all other disabled parking bay enquiries, please complete our social work enquiry form.