Disabled Badge Holders
The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The Scheme also applies to registered blind people and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.
The Scheme allows badge holders to park close to their destination, free of charge. The national concessions apply only to on-street parking. In the Harrogate district disabled badge holders can also park free of charge in all of the Council's off-street car parks. The badge must always be displayed when using these parking benefits.
Where to park in Harrogate District
- Any of the Council's off-street car parks. Parking is free of charge and for an unrestricted length of time. Some of the car parks have spaces designated for disabled badge holders.
- Any parking place on-street (apart from the exemptions listed below). Parking is free of charge and for an unrestricted length of time.
- On single or double yellow lines (apart from where a loading/unloading restriction exists) for a maximum period of three hours while displaying a clock disc set at time of arrival, providing that your vehicle does not cause an obstruction to other traffic or pedestrians.
See also Directgov blue badge map and information.
Where not to park in Harrogate District
- Where a loading or unloading restriction is in operation.
- Taxi ranks, loading bays, bus stops, cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, clearways or School 'Keep Clear' markings.
- Where temporary restrictions on parking are in force along a length of road, e.g. as indicated by no-waiting cones.
- Where it would be obstructive or cause a danger to others, e.g. at school entrances, close to a junction, narrow stretches of road, blocking vehicle entrances, emergency vehicle entrances, pavements.
Applying for a disabled persons' badge
If you think you may be entitled to a badge you should apply:
In England and Wales
To the Social Services Department of your County, Unitary, Metropolitan District or London Borough Council.
If you live in the Harrogate District you should make an initial request for an application form to:
Social Services Customer Relations Unit Jesmond House 31-33 Victoria Avenue Harrogate HG1 3QE |
Tel: 01423 568099
Fax: 01423 520464
|
In Scotland
To the Chief Executive or Social Work Department of your local Council.
Your local authority will decide if you are eligible for a badge. There is no right of appeal against their decision if you do not meet the eligibility conditions.
How to use the badge
You must display the badge on top of the dashboard or facia panel of a vehicle with the front of the badge (i.e. the side showing the wheelchair-user symbol) facing forward so that the relevant details are legible from outside of the vehicle when using the parking benefits.
Badges last for three years only. It is the badge holder's responsibility to ensure that badges are up to date. When you need a new one you should apply to the issuing authority for reassessment some weeks before the badge expires. You must return the badge to the issuing authority if you no longer need it .
Your duties as a badge holder
The purpose of the Scheme is to allow you to visit shops and other places. You must ensure that you use your badge with care and attention to the rules.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the badge is used properly. It is in your interest that the badge should retain the respect of other motorists and pedestrians. Please play your part.
You must not allow other people to use the badge. To reduce the risk of this happening accidentally, you should remove the badge whenever you are not using the parking concession.
You must ensure that the details on the front of the badge remain legible. If they become unreadable, the badge must be returned to the local authority for re-issue.
You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantages of the benefits while you sit in the car. Although it is not illegal for a badge holder, or a non-disabled person waiting for the badge holder to return, to remain in the vehicle while the Blue Badge is displayed, consideration should be given to using a car park whenever possible.