Hundreds in Cumbria fined for not displaying blue badge
More than 1,000 fines were issued by a council last year for the incorrect use of disabled parking spaces.In 2024, Westmorland and Furness Council in Cumbria handed out 1,100 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking in a disabled person's designated on-street parking space without displaying a blue badge, a freedom of information (FOI) request found.The Liberal Democrat-led authority also gave out 259 fines to people wrongly parking in an off-street disabled parking space. A spokesperson for the council said: "It is vital that all motorists respect designated spaces for Blue Badge holders, ensuring they remain available for those who need them most."
Deputy leader of the council's Conservative group Matt Brereton said people should not abuse disabled parking spaces but added there was an "issue" around access to town centres."As much as we encourage people to leave the car at home, there's no way a slightly older person or anyone with lots of shopping or two young children is going to go in and out of town centre without the car," he said. Brereton told the Local Democracy Reporting Service some of the car parks had bays that were "too narrow"."One of the biggest issues we can solve at a stroke is to enhance the availability and accessibility of town centre parking," he added.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said it was "dedicated to keeping parking accessible for everyone" and that its officers issued PCNs where necessary "to address inappropriate parking".It added: "Pass holders must also adhere to the terms and conditions of use to protect the integrity of the scheme, promoting fairness and accessibility for all."
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Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Full list of people who can automatically get a Blue Badge and how to apply
Full list of people who can automatically get a Blue Badge and how to apply Many people aren't aware that they are automatically eligible to qualify for a Blue Badge - this is all you need to know Some people might automatically be eligible for a Blue Badge (Image: Getty Images ) Blue Badges are a lifeline for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, enabling them to park closer to their destination. However, many drivers may be unaware that certain individuals automatically qualify for a badge. Applications can be made on behalf of yourself, another individual, or an organisation that transports people requiring a Blue Badge. The cost varies across the UK, with charges up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, while it is free in Wales, reports Chronicle Live. Typically, these badges are valid for up to three years. But what are the guidelines for applying for a Blue Badge and what is the eligibility criteria? This is your complete guide to a Blue Badge and whether your are eligible (Image: Getty Images ) Here's a rundown of all those who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge, those who might be eligible if they meet specific criteria, and the necessary documents required for application. This includes individuals receiving DWP disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The precise rules concerning PIP and Blue Badges are outlined below. More information can be found here. Article continues below And you can apply for a Blue Badge here. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Who can automatically get a Blue Badge? You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged three or over and at least one of the following applies: you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can't walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the 'moving around' activity of the mobility component) you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) you receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the 'planning and following journeys' activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress The Department for Transport has clarified the rules around Blue Badge eligibility, stating: "If you have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the 'planning and following journeys' activity of PIP you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but you do not automatically qualify. This includes if you have a higher score of 12. You will have to provide evidence to demonstrate your eligibility which will be assessed as part of your application." Who might qualify for a blue badge? Eligibility criteria for obtaining a Blue Badge include: you cannot walk at all you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes walking is dangerous to your health and safety you have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces According to the Department for Transport's guidelines: "Your local council will decide if you are eligible for a badge. They cannot start the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence. It may take 12 weeks or longer to assess your application. If they decide that you are not eligible and you think that they did not take account of all the facts, you can ask them to consider your application again." What are the documents needed to apply for a Blue Badge? You need to provide: proof of identity proof of address a recent head and shoulders digital photo your national insurance number (if you have one) contact details (phone number, email and postal address) Proof of identity options include providing either: birth or adoption certificate passport driving licence marriage or civil partnership certificate divorce or dissolution certificate You can prove your address by: a recent council tax bill a recent letter from a Government department such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) driving licence a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16) Applicants who believe they are entitled to a Blue Badge through certain benefits must show proof of these benefits. For those qualifying via PIP, information on their mobility assessment scores and the end date of their award, where relevant, is required. You'll also be required to present evidence of the PIP award. This should be the three pages from the DWP letter, clearly displaying entitlement to PIP (front page), assessment scores (penultimate page) and mobility scores (final page). For DLA, you'll need to know your rate of the mobility component and the award end date (if applicable). You'll also be asked to provide proof of the DLA award. This should be the most recent letter from DWP, clearly showing mobility rating, certificate of entitlement to DLA and the date of the letter. Proof of eligibility The Department for Transport clarifies that if you are applying without one of the benefits, the application will need to be assessed by the issuing local council. To assist in assessing the application, you'll be asked to provide additional information based on the answers you give when checking eligibility. If you have difficulty walking or cannot walk, or you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will be asked to provide details of any relevant medication taken, relevant treatments received or due to be received, and healthcare or associated professionals involved with the treatment of your condition. You will be asked if you wish to upload supporting documents. These could include prescriptions, diagnosis letters or correspondence between professionals treating your condition. If you struggle with walking or find it challenging, you will be asked questions about how your condition impacts your ability to walk. If you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will also be asked questions about how your journeys between your vehicle and destination are affected by your condition. Article continues below More details can be found here.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Full list of people who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Blue Badges can be incredibly beneficial for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, allowing them to park nearer to their destination. However, many drivers might not realise that certain people automatically qualify for a badge. You have the option to apply for one for yourself, on behalf of someone else, or an organisation that transports individuals who require a Blue Badge. The cost is up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, while it's free in Wales. Typically, the badges are valid for up to three years. But what are the guidelines for applying for a Blue Badge and what is the eligibility criteria? Here's a rundown of all the individuals who can automatically receive a Blue Badge, those who may get one if they meet the criteria, and what documents you need to apply. The list includes individuals who receive DWP disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The specific rules regarding PIP and Blue Badges are detailed below. More information can be found here. And you can apply for a Blue Badge here, reports Chronicle Live. Who can automatically get a Blue Badge You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged three or over and at least one of the following applies: you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can't walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the 'moving around' activity of the mobility component) you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) you receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the 'planning and following journeys' activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress The Department for Transport says: "If you have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the 'planning and following journeys' activity of PIP you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but you do not automatically qualify. This includes if you have a higher score of 12. You will have to provide evidence to demonstrate your eligibility which will be assessed as part of your application." Who may get a Blue Badge You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies: you cannot walk at all you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes walking is dangerous to your health and safety you have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces The Department for Transport states: "Your local council will decide if you are eligible for a badge. They cannot start the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence. It may take 12 weeks or longer to assess your application. If they decide that you are not eligible and you think that they did not take account of all the facts, you can ask them to consider your application again." What you need to apply for a Blue Badge You will need to provide: proof of identity proof of address a recent head and shoulders digital photo your national insurance number (if you have one) contact details (phone number, email and postal address) To prove your identity, you can provide a copy of either: birth or adoption certificate passport driving licence marriage or civil partnership certificate divorce or dissolution certificate To prove your address, you can provide a copy of either: a recent council tax bill a recent letter from a Government department such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) driving licence a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16) If you are eligible because you receive one of the benefits mentioned above, you will need to provide proof of benefits. For PIP, you'll need to know the scores from the mobility assessment and the award end date (if applicable). You'll also be asked to provide proof of the PIP award. This would be the three pages from the letter from DWP, which clearly shows - entitlement to PIP (front page), assessment scores (second to last page) and mobility scores (last page). For DLA, you'll need to know which rate of the mobility component you receive and the award end date (if applicable). You'll also be asked to provide proof of the DLA award. This should be the most recent letter from DWP, which clearly shows - mobility rating, certificate of entitlement to DLA and the date of the letter. Proof of eligibility The Department for Transport explains that if you are applying without one of the benefits, the application will need to be assessed by the issuing local council. To help assess the application, you'll be asked to provide extra information depending on the answers you give when you are checking eligibility. If you cannot walk or find walking difficult or you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will be asked to provide details of any relevant medication that is taken, relevant treatments that you receive or are due to receive, and healthcare or associated professionals that have been involved with the treatment of your condition. You will be asked if you want to upload supporting documents. This could be prescriptions, diagnosis letters or correspondence between professionals that treat your condition. If you cannot walk or find walking difficult, you will also be asked questions around how your condition affects your walking. If you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will also be asked questions around how journeys between your vehicle and destination are affected by your condition. More details are available here. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
6 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Full list of people who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge
Blue Badges can be incredibly beneficial for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, allowing them to park nearer to their destination. However, many drivers might not realise that certain people automatically qualify for a badge. You have the option to apply for one for yourself, on behalf of someone else, or an organisation that transports individuals who require a Blue Badge. The cost is up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, while it's free in Wales. Typically, the badges are valid for up to three years. But what are the guidelines for applying for a Blue Badge and what is the eligibility criteria? Here's a rundown of all the individuals who can automatically receive a Blue Badge, those who may get one if they meet the criteria, and what documents you need to apply. The list includes individuals who receive DWP disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The specific rules regarding PIP and Blue Badges are detailed below. More information can be found here. And you can apply for a Blue Badge here, reports Chronicle Live. Who can automatically get a Blue Badge You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged three or over and at least one of the following applies: you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can't walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the 'moving around' activity of the mobility component) you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) you receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the 'planning and following journeys' activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress The Department for Transport says: "If you have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the 'planning and following journeys' activity of PIP you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but you do not automatically qualify. This includes if you have a higher score of 12. You will have to provide evidence to demonstrate your eligibility which will be assessed as part of your application." Who may get a Blue Badge You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies: you cannot walk at all you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes walking is dangerous to your health and safety you have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment you have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks you struggle severely to plan or follow a journey you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces The Department for Transport states: "Your local council will decide if you are eligible for a badge. They cannot start the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence. It may take 12 weeks or longer to assess your application. If they decide that you are not eligible and you think that they did not take account of all the facts, you can ask them to consider your application again." What you need to apply for a Blue Badge You will need to provide: proof of identity proof of address a recent head and shoulders digital photo your national insurance number (if you have one) contact details (phone number, email and postal address) To prove your identity, you can provide a copy of either: birth or adoption certificate passport driving licence marriage or civil partnership certificate divorce or dissolution certificate To prove your address, you can provide a copy of either: a recent council tax bill a recent letter from a Government department such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) driving licence a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16) If you are eligible because you receive one of the benefits mentioned above, you will need to provide proof of benefits. For PIP, you'll need to know the scores from the mobility assessment and the award end date (if applicable). You'll also be asked to provide proof of the PIP award. This would be the three pages from the letter from DWP, which clearly shows - entitlement to PIP (front page), assessment scores (second to last page) and mobility scores (last page). For DLA, you'll need to know which rate of the mobility component you receive and the award end date (if applicable). You'll also be asked to provide proof of the DLA award. This should be the most recent letter from DWP, which clearly shows - mobility rating, certificate of entitlement to DLA and the date of the letter. Proof of eligibility The Department for Transport explains that if you are applying without one of the benefits, the application will need to be assessed by the issuing local council. To help assess the application, you'll be asked to provide extra information depending on the answers you give when you are checking eligibility. If you cannot walk or find walking difficult or you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will be asked to provide details of any relevant medication that is taken, relevant treatments that you receive or are due to receive, and healthcare or associated professionals that have been involved with the treatment of your condition. You will be asked if you want to upload supporting documents. This could be prescriptions, diagnosis letters or correspondence between professionals that treat your condition. If you cannot walk or find walking difficult, you will also be asked questions around how your condition affects your walking. If you have a non-visible (hidden) condition, you will also be asked questions around how journeys between your vehicle and destination are affected by your condition. More details are available here.
