What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

Who can Blue Badges be issued to?

Who is eligible for a Blue Badge?

What evidence is required?

What happens after I have applied for a Blue Badge?

How long is the badge valid for?

When do I need to re-apply for a Blue Badge?

What happens if my badge or clock are lost/stolen?

Appeals Process

Correct use of the Blue Badge

Where can I find out more?

How can I apply for a Blue Badge?

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?
The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The Scheme 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.

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Who can Blue Badges be issued to?
Blue Badges can only be issued to people who meet the eligibility criteria, not to relatives or carers. They can be used in any car the badge holder is driving or is a passenger in.

Organisations may also apply for blue badges, if they:

provide services for individuals with severe physical disabilities
own the vehicle for which the Blue Badge is required.
The following types of organisations can be considered for blue badges:

• day centres
• special schools
• community groups/projects

Clocks will also be issued to Blue Badge holders.

The local authority makes the final decision on eligibility for the blue badge, this cannot be decided by a GP.

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Who is eligible for a Blue Badge?
There are two ways you may be eligible for a Blue Badge. We call these automatic eligibility or assessed eligibility.

Automatic eligibility
You will automatically be eligible for a Blue Badge if you receive

Mobility Allowance
War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
Higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), that is awarded "Help getting around"

Or if you:

• are registered blind
• use a disabled person’s car supplied by a government department
• receive a grant towards own vehicle under section5(2)(a) of the NHS Act, 1977, or section 46 of the NHS (Scotland) Act, 1978
   

Assessed eligibility:
You are eligible for a Blue Badge if you:

• drive a motor vehicle regularly and have a severe disability in both upper limbs and are unable to turn by hand the steering wheel of a motor vehicle even if it is fitted with a turning knob.
• have a permanent and substantial disability, which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

If either of these applies, we ask for evidence to be provided.

The eligibility criteria for Blue Badges are set by law. The applicant must be over two years of age.

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What evidence is required?

For an application by an individual

You will need to provide the following documents:

A completed application form which you will need to sign and date. We will also ask you to pass a certificate to your GP (family doctor) who will need to complete and return it to us.
Proof of allowance, for example photocopy of the allowance book or an official letter confirming the award dated within the last two months.
Two passport-sized photographs, one of which should have your name on the back.
If you are blind you will need to be registered blind with Bournemouth Borough Council before a blue badge can be issued. If you are registered blind with another local authority you will need to provide proof of your registration.

For an application on behalf of an organisation or institution

You will need to provide:

1. A completed application form

2. A headed letter with a stamp or logo from the organisation

3. Details of the type of service provided

4. The number of people the organisation provides transport for

5 Type of disabilities and mobility problems experienced by service users

6. Type of transport used

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What happens after I’ve applied for a Blue Badge?
If all eligibility requirements are met we will send the Blue Badge to your home address.

How long is the badge valid for?
The badge is valid for three years for both individual applicants and organisations.

When do I need to re-apply for a Blue Badge?
We will send you a renewal application form between four and six weeks before the expiry date on the Blue Badge. You will then need to follow the same procedure as for the initial application.

Fee
The fee for the Blue Badge is £2.00. A cheque or postal order made payable to Bournemouth Borough Council should accompany the application.

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What happens if my badge or clock are lost/stolen?
If you lose your Blue Badge and/or clock or they are stolen you should send a short letter, signed by the badge holder, to the Social Services Directorate giving:

• your full name and address
• the reason why a replacement is required.
• For a lost or stolen badge you will also need to send a further passport-sized photograph with your name on the back.

For stolen badges and clocks you will need to report the loss to the police and obtain a crime reference number.

Appeals Process
If your application for a Blue Badge is refused you have the right of appeal. If you choose to appeal you should write to the person named in the refusal letter detailing the reasons for requesting an appeal. Appeals can take a number of weeks to be decided. The decision of the appeal is final and only one appeal may be made per application.

Correct use of the Blue Badge
It is an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1984 to display a badge when a vehicle is not being used to transport the badge holder.

If you do not display the Blue Badge when parking the vehicle it is liable to be issued with a parking penalty ticket, clamped or towed away.

If you persistently misuse the conditions of the Blue Badge it can be withdrawn. 
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Where can I find out more?
For more information about Blue Badges you should contact the Department of Transport

You could also contact the National Association of Blue Badge Holders

How can I apply for a Blue Badge?
You can request an application form by:

Writing to: Blue Badge Section,

Community Care Services

Bournemouth Borough Council

Town Hall

Bournemouth

BH2 6DY

By Telephone 01202 458744

By E Mail to Blue Badges

Please ensure that you include your full name and address, along with the telephone number and date of birth of the applicant for the badge on your email.

Or give us your details online.

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