Blue Badge parking scheme

A Blue Badge helps people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination, either as a driver or passenger.

Where Blue Badge holders can and can't park

Blue Badge holders in Peterborough are permitted to park:

  • On double or single yellow lines (where no loading restrictions are in place – indicated by single or double kerb markings) for up to three hours
  • For free in on-street pay and display bays for as long as they would like (but not in off-street car parks where normal charges will apply)
  • In limited waiting bays (30 mins, one hour, etc) for as long as they would like
  • In disabled badge holders only bays for as long as stated on the signs, if no time limit is stated on the signs they can park for as long as they would like

Blue Badge holders are not permitted to park in any bays which are reserved for the following specific users:

  • Permit holders or resident permit holder bays
  • Loading bays
  • Taxi ranks
  • Bus stops
  • Electric vehicle bays

You must display the Blue Badge. In England and Wales, you must display the special blue parking disc showing the time of arrival.

There must be an interval of at least one hour from a previous period of waiting before the same vehicle can be parked in the same road or part of a road on the same day.

Eligibility for a Blue Badge

Check whether you are eligible to apply for a Blue Badge.

People who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over three years old and at least one of the following applies:

  • You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • You receive a Personal Independence Payment 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 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
  • You are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
  • You receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
  • You have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

People who may be eligible for a Blue Badge

You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if you have an enduring and substantial disability which causes you, during a journey, to:

  • Be unable to walk
  • Experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
  • Be at risk of serious harm when walking
  • Pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person

You may also be eligible if you drive a vehicle regularly and:

  • Have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate pay and display parking machines
  • Have considerable difficulty in operating all or some types of parking meter

If you do not qualify for a Blue Badge automatically, you may need to take part in a telephone or face-to-face assessment. This is for us to consider whether you meet the eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge.

Children under the age of three will not normally be eligible unless one of the following applies:

  • 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

As your local council, we decide if you are eligible for a Blue Badge.

We cannot start the assessment process until we have all the necessary evidence that you are eligible.

For further information about proof of eligibility and what you need to apply for a Blue Badge, please see visit the Guidance from the Department of Transport section on GOV.UK.

Apply for a Blue Badge

You can apply online for a Blue Badge on the GOV.UK website.

You can also request a replacement Blue Badge on the GOV.UK website if your original has been lost, stolen or damaged. We will cancel the original so it cannot be used fraudulently.

In both cases, you need to pay a £10 administration fee. This payment will be refunded if your application is unsuccessful.

Once you have applied for your new or replacement Blue Badge on the GOV.UK website, you will need to return to our website to pay the £10 administration fee.

Pay the Blue Badge administration fee

Pay the £10 administration fee for your Blue Badge online using the link below.

Help with applying and paying

If you can't apply online, or pay the administration fee online, please contact us for help.

To apply over the phone, please call 01733 452 356 – open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Please note that when you call to apply over the phone, we won’t complete the application with you there and then. We will arrange a telephone appointment with you to help you apply.

You can do the same to apply for a replacement Blue Badge.

You can also email blue.badges@peterborough.gov.uk.

You can pay over the phone with a debit or credit card. Please call 01733 747474.

Listen to all the messages until you get to the end and it says 'Please hold the line if you wish to speak to someone'. When they answer the phone, please tell them you want to pay for a Blue Badge. They will ask for your name and address before taking the payment.

You can do the same if you need to pay for a replacement Blue Badge.

Blue Badge appeals and misuse

As part of your appeal, we may require you to take part in an independent mobility assessment. An independent healthcare professional will carry out your assessment, usually over the phone. The assessment focuses on walking distances, your mobility impairment and other criteria defined by legislation.

Following the independent mobility assessment, the assessor makes a recommendation as to whether your condition appears to meet the eligibility criteria to be awarded a Blue Badge.

If you have already taken part in a mobility assessment as part of your application prior to your appeal, then an independent member of staff will review the original recommendation.

As part of a ‘non-visible’ disability appeal, we may require you to ask a professional regularly involved in your care to fill out a professional form.

If you have already supplied us with a professional form as part of your application prior to your appeal, then an independent member of staff will review the original information provided.

Where a recommendation is that your condition does not appear to meet the required criteria, an independent member of staff will further review your case based on the eligibility criteria outlined by the Department for Transport, the information on your initial form, the assessment, and any evidence you have supplied to support your appeal. They will not have been directly involved in the original decision. It is important that details and information about your mobility is clear and informative.

They will document clearly their decision on our behalf, including their reasoning.

We will normally let you have a decision within one month of receiving your appeal, but this may be longer if we need further evidence of your condition.

As a result of the appeal, we will send you communication regarding the outcome of your assessment.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, you cannot re-apply for a period of six months unless your condition significantly changes or you become eligible under any other criteria.

Your appeal must be in writing and emailed to blue.badges@peterborough.gov.uk.

Your Blue Badge is the property of Peterborough City Council. We can take it away if it's misused. You should read the Rights and Responsibilities booklet sent to you with your badge to ensure you know when and how you can use your badge.

The important things to remember are:

  • The Blue Badge is for your use only
  • You must be a passenger or driver of the vehicle at all times when a Blue Badge is on display
  • You cannot let someone else use your Blue Badge to get free or better parking
  • Carers cannot use the Blue Badge even when carrying out business on your behalf

Misuse of a Blue Badge by you or another person is a criminal offence, which can carry a fine of up to £1,000 and the immediate withdrawal of the badge.

Reporting misuse of a Blue Badge

If you believe a Blue Badge is being misused, please contact us and we will take action where appropriate.

If possible, please include the following information:

  • The Blue Badge number
  • Name of the person the Blue Badge was issued to
  • Vehicle registration of the vehicle using the Blue Badge
  • Circumstances of suspected misuse
  • Date suspected misuse took place
  • Your name and contact details - although you can remain anonymous