Councils to be given extra powers over disabled parking badges

14 Feb 11
Councils are to receive on-the-spot powers to recover Blue Badge disabled parking badges that have been cancelled or misused

By Vivienne Russell

14 February 2011

Councils are to receive on-the-spot powers to recover Blue Badge disabled parking permits that have been cancelled or misused.

Transport minister Norman Baker today announced an overhaul of the Blue Badge scheme, the first in 40 years.

Local authorities will also be able to refuse to issue or withdraw badges and charge more for them, increasing the fees from £2 to up to £10. Legislation will be amended to clarify new powers to inspect badges and to determine how wrongful use will be determined.

The costs of administering the scheme will be reduced, with councils sharing an online application facility. The Department for Transport is estimating this will lead to operational efficiency savings of up to £20m a year.

A new design will make it harder for badges to be copied, forged or altered, with electronic text replacing handwritten text.

Legislation will also be altered to require wider use of independent mobility assessments to determine eligibility for the Blue Badge. Local authorities will be given control of current NHS spending on Blue Badge assessments to procure independent assessments.

Baker said the Blue Badge scheme was in ‘real need’ of modernisation after 40 years without reform.

‘Such are the high levels of fraud in the current system that 50% of Blue Badge holders now find it difficult to get a parking space and Blue Badge fraud is estimated to cost £46m a year.

‘The changes I am announcing today will crack down on Blue Badge misuse and modernise the system.’

Helen Dolphin, director of policy and campaigns at Mobilise, the charity for disabled motorists, said greater clarity over the scheme was welcome.

She said: ‘One of the major criticisms has been the extent of regional variation in the administration. We hope local authorities will recognise the benefits these measures will offer in support of a consistent and uniform approach.’

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