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Blue Badge Scheme

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The scheme operates throughout the UK and is recognised throughout the European Union.

Blue Badge logo

You are automatically eligible to apply for a badge if you are over three years old and either:

  • Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
  • Are registered statutory blind
  • Receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • Are a member of service personnel or veterans who has been awarded a benefit (giving rise to entitlement to a lump sum at tariffs 1-8 inclusive) under the AFCS and assessed and certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) (an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence) as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

You also may also be eligible for a badge if you are over three years old and either:

  • Have a permanent and substantial disability (expected to last longer than 3 years) which means you cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult.
  • Drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter (or would find it very difficult to operate them).
    OR
  • If you are a parent of a child who is under the age of three, you may apply for a badge for your child if they have a specific medical condition which means that they either:
    Must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty or need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital

How to apply for a Blue Badge

People can apply for a Blue Badge:

  • In person at Adult Care Connect & Direct, Manchester Road, Bury,  BL9 0DG (which is next door to Bury Library and therefore close to the Bus Station and Metro Link interchange. There is also disabled parking and metered parking available)
  • Over the telephone by ringing our Customer Contact Centre on 0161 253 5151
    Please answer all of the questions asked during the application process giving as much detail as possible about your disability and you will be advised of whether or not you meet our eligibility criteria.

How to renew a Blue Badge

Blue Badges can be renewed up to two months before the badge expires. People can apply to renew a blue badge:

  • In person at Adult Care Connect & Direct, Manchester Road, Bury,  BL9 0DG (which is next door to Bury Library and therefore close to the Bus Station and Metro Link interchange. There is also disabled parking and metered parking available)
  • Over the telephone by ringing our Customer Contact Centre on 0161 253 5151
    Please answer all of the questions asked during the application process giving as much detail as possible about your disability and you will be advised of whether or not you still meet our eligibility criteria.

Changes to Blue Badges from 1 January 2012

The Blue Badge Scheme has been in place since 1970 and whilst it helps 2.56 million disabled people to retain their independence, abuse and fraud of this scheme costs around £46 million per year.

In order to tackle abuse, the Department for Transport are changing the Blue Badge system with effect from 1st January 2012.

  • The badges will change from laminated card with a photograph which is currently made up by each Local Authority to a new drivers license style plastic badge with a digital image of the badge holder and it also has hidden security measures. These badges will be created by a specialist company at a national processing unit which will ensure consistency and reduce fraud.
  • A National Blue Badge database which stores all Blue Badge details will also be introduced. From 1st January 2012 Local Authorities will be charging a fee of £10 per badge to cover the increased administrative costs.

For the Blue Badge Policy and more information about the changes please click on the links on the right.  If you would like to be contacted about Blue Badges please click on the offsite links on the right which will take you to the Your care, Your choice website where you can complete an online form.