Blue Badge parking

What is it?

The Blue Badge Scheme, also known as the Disabled Persons Parking scheme, provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe mobility difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers.

The council administers the Blue Badge scheme for the Southampton area on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Who is eligible?

The Blue Badge scheme applies to people:

• With severe mobility difficulties
• Who are registered blind
• With very severe disabilities in both upper limbs who regularly drive a vehicle but have difficulty using a parking meter
• Under the age of three with specific medical conditions
• With hidden disabilities who experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress, are at risk of serious harm when walking or pose a risk of serious harm to any other person when walking
• Organisations providing transportation for 12 disabled people or more can apply for an organisational Blue Badge.

The conditions for the issue of a Blue Badge are detailed in the Department for Transport leaflet Can I Get a Blue Badge?

Using a Blue Badge

A Blue Badge will help you to park close to your destination, either as a passenger or driver. However, the Badge is intended for on-street parking only.

Off street car parks, such as those provided in local authority, hospital or supermarket are governed by separate rules. We recommend you check the restrictions in place when you park.

Important: Do not assume you can always park for free or without displaying a valid ticket.

Blue Badge parking in Southampton

Find Blue Badge disabled parking on our find parking map - remember to tick the Disabled bays layer.

Blue Badge Holders can park free of charge in all on street pay and display bays and all off street surface car parks as well as West Park Multi-storey car park for any length of time. Some on street Disabled Parking bays have a time limit. Please check the sign for any time limits after parking your vehicle.

Blue Badge Holders can park free and without time limit when displaying their valid badge in resident bays and limited waiting bays in zones 1-18 and 26-27.

Parking fees are payable by Blue Badge Holders in Bedford Place, Eastgate Street, Grosvenor Square and Marlands multi-storey car parks.

Badge Holders must not park on yellow lines where there are restrictions on loading or unloading - indicated by yellow kerb dashes and/or signs on plates.

Remember: You must clearly display your Blue Badge on the dashboard of your car for the duration of your stay. If you do not display your Blue Badge, you may receive a parking fine.

Apply for a Blue Badge

Reporting fraudulent use of a Blue Badge

If someone continues to use a Blue Badge when they are no longer entitled, or use a deceased persons Blue Badge, it is fraud.

If you suspect someone of using a Blue Badge that they should not be using, you can report it to us so we can investigate it.

Report parking fraud

Returning a Blue Badge

A Blue Badge must be returned to us in the following circumstances:

• The badge has expired,
• Your medical condition or mobility improves, and you are no longer eligible,
• A replacement badge has been issued for one that is lost or stolen, and the original is found or recovered
• The badge is no longer required,
• The badge becomes damaged or faded and is illegible,
• The death of the badge holder

You should cut your badge in half and return to us with a note detailing the reason for the return and take it to the Gateway or post to us at the address below:

The Blue Badge Team,
Southampton City Council,
Civic Centre,
Southampton,
SO14 7LY

Important: If you continue to display the badge when you no longer need it you may be fined up to £1,000.