Blue Badge scheme
Blue Badges allow cars carrying people who are registered blind or people who have severe walking difficulties to park in disabled parking bays, near shops, stations and other facilities.
Who is eligible?
The Blue Badge scheme is open to any Tower Hamlets resident who is:
- registered blind
- receives the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance
- in receipt of eight points or more under the "Moving Around" activity of the mobility component of personal independence payment
- receives a war pensioner's mobility supplement
- a child under three with specific medical conditions.
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. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to display a badge on a vehicle when it is not being used to transport the badge holder.
How to use your Blue Badge
Where you can park
Vehicles displaying Blue Badges can also park:
- on single or double yellow lines (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading) for up to three hours. Clocks must be displayed
- free of charge and without time limit where on-street pay and display parking facilities apply. The disabled badge must always be correctly displayed.
Where you cannot park
A badge must not be used to park in any of the following places:
- where:
- a loading ban is in force (shown by yellow kerb dashes)
- there are double white lines in the centre of the road (even if one of the lines is a broken line)
- in a:
- bus lane during its hours of operation
- cycle lane
- bay marked for other types of vehicles, such as an ambulance, taxi or loading bay
- loading bay
- residents bay
- business bay
- permit holders only bay
- on:
- a pedestrian crossing area
- a footway or pavement
- school “keep clear” markings
- a bay or area where parking has been suspended e.g. with yellow signs
- next to a dropped footway or on a raised carriageway where pedestrians or vehicles need access to the road
- in personalised disabled bays.
You should also avoid the following:
- any place that might cause an obstruction or hold up traffic
- parking in a place that might block access for others.
The vehicle must be moved if a police officer or a civil enforcement officer in uniform requests it.
How to apply
Applications for a Blue Badge must be made to Tower Hamlets Council. If you are not automatically eligible, you may be assessed to see if you are eligible.
You can download the Blue Badge application form from the Tower Hamlets Council website.
Changes to your Blue Badge
If you have a Blue Badge and want to make a change, please contact mobility.support@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
More details can be found on the Tower Hamlets Council website.