Blue Badge - The disabled parking permit
The Blue Badge Scheme is a Europe-wide arrangement for parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties, who travel either as drivers or passengers.
The scheme also applies to people who are registered blind and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.
It allows badge holders to park close to their destination, but the national concessions apply only to onstreet parking.
Disabled badge holders are entitled to free parking anywhere within Lambeth Council operated car parks. There are also ten specially designated disabled bays located at Brixton Multistorey car park and one at Leigham Court Road car park, Streatham.
Who can get a Blue Badge?
You are automatically entitled to a Blue Badge if:
- you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance
- you receive a war pensioners' mobility supplement
- you use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a government health department
- you are registered blind
- you have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob
Blue Badge assessment process at Lambeth
If the criteria set out above are not met, you may still apply in the event that you have a disability which is permanent and substantial and which also means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking.
In this case you will be asked to answer a series of questions in the form and to attend a mobility assessment by an independent occupational therapist to help the local authority determine whether you are eligible for a badge. The local authority uses independent assessors to make a decision in accordance with the Department for Transport eligibility criteria for Blue Badges.
Where deemed necessary by an assessor, the authority may need to contact one or a number of your health professionals, such as GP, specialist, physiotherapist, etc, to obtain supporting information. You will need to ensure your application form is fully completed and consent forms signed in order for us to contact health professionals, where required. It is not a requirement of your Blue Badge application that your GP is contacted, however, you may wish to submit information from your doctor/specialist with your application.
A Blue Badge can only be issued in these cases where your condition is assessed to meet the eligibility criteria of walking disability set by the Department for Transport.
Note that if you have previously held a Blue Badge, you are not automatically entitled to the reissue of another badge.
Applying for a Blue Badge
You can download the Blue Badge parking scheme application form here.
Send your completed application form to:
Accessible Transport Unit
Hopton House
243A Streatham High Road
SW16 6EY
Email: accessibletransport@lambeth.gov.uk
Reporting Blue Badge misuse
If you wish to report someone you suspect of misusing a disabled person's Blue Badge then please contact Lambeth Parking Fraud Section as follows:
or go to our Disabled badge and permit fraud page.
Lost or stolen Blue Badge
It is your responsibility to notify the local police station immediately of this loss/theft and obtain a 'Lost in Streets Property' report or a 'Crime Reference Number' report. We are not able to replace your Blue Badge without this report. Please send a copy of this report along with two passport photos and £2.00 replacement fee/postal order to the Accessible Transport at:
Accessible Transport Unit
Hopton House
243A Streatham High Road
London SW16 6EY
Email: accessibletransport@lambeth.gov.uk
There is a ten (10) day waiting period with regards to replacement of Blue Badges. This is to allow for anti-fraud processes and involvement of Lambeth Parking Services. We will write to you to arrange a collection date and for you to sign for your replacement badge from our office.
Further information
For more information about the blue badge you should contact the Department for Transport.