Disabled Parking - Blue 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 and is valid in all EU countries. It allows badge holders to park close to their destination, but the national concessions apply only to on-street parking.
Please note that only Blue Badge holders in tax-exempt vehicles displaying their blue badge may park for free in Ceredigion's Pay and Display car parks.
Where can I park?
Off-Street Parking
- Blue Badge holders in tax-exempt vehicles displaying their blue badge may park for free in Ceredigion's Pay and Display car parks.
On-Street Parking
- Blue Badge holders may also park on double yellow lines for up to 3 hours (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading or other restrictions.)
- Blue Badge holders may park wherever there are specified disabled parking spaces designated on the public highway.
Where not to park
The Blue Badge is not a licence to park anywhere. You must not park at the following:
- During the time a ban on loading and unloading is in force
- Where there are double white lines in the centre of the road even if one of the lines is broken
- On any clearway
- On all pedestrian crossings – including Zebra, Pelican, Toucan and Puffin crossings
- In parking places reserved for specific for specific users e.g. permit holders only, loading bays, taxis, cycles
- Where temporary restrictions on parking are in force along a length of road e.g. as indicated by no-waiting cones
- On school "keep clear" markings during the hours shown on a no stopping plate
You must also not park where it would be obstructive or cause a danger to others. The following are likely but not exhaustive examples:
- At school entrances, bus stops, on a bend, or near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
- Where it would make it difficult for others to see clearly e.g. close to a junction
- Where it would make the road narrow e.g. by a traffic island or where roadwork is in progress
- Where it would hold up traffic e.g. in narrow stretches of road or blocking vehicle entrances
- Where emergency vehicles stop or go in and out e.g. hospital entrances
- Where the kerb has been lowered or the road raised to form a pedestrian crossing
- On a pavement unless signs permit it
How to use the Badge
Please ensure that when using your badge it is left on your dashboard with the relevant information facing out of your vehicle. If your vehicle does not have a dashboard, then you should exhibit the badge in a conspicuous position so that the relevant details are visible from outside the vehicle.
The badge should only be displayed when using the parking benefits under the Scheme, except if the vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose of entering or exiting an area (which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a Blue Badge) in order to pick up or drop off the Blue Badge holder.
Badges given to organisations caring for disabled people must not be used by non-disabled members for their own benefit. Please note that these badges should only be used when transporting people who would usually be eligible under the scheme, and when those people will be alighting from the vehicle.
Badges last for 3 years only. When you need a new one, please apply to Ceredigion County Council 4 weeks before it is due to expire.
Please note reminders are no longer sent out to advise Blue Badge holders that their badge is expiring, so always check the expiry date and allow adequate time to renew yours by completing a new application form.
You must return the Badge to Ceredigion County Council if you no longer need it.
Misuse of the Badge
- Your badge can be withdrawn if you misuse it or allow anyone else to misuse it.
- It is a criminal offence for non-disabled people to use a badge. If they do so, they are liable to a fine of up to £1000.
- It is a criminal offence to drive a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge unless the badge holder is in the vehicle, or the vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose of entering or exiting an area (which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a Blue Badge) in order to pick up or drop off the Blue Badge holder.
- Non-disabled people who park in a bay designated for Blue Badge holders are liable to a parking fine.