Free extra hour in council car parks for Blue Badge holders

Blue Badge holders in Shropshire could get an extra hour of free parking in Shropshire Council’s car parks, if approved by the council’s Cabinet this week (Wednesday 4 April 2012). 

This follows a review of the council’s approach to parking charges in its car parks for Blue Badge holders in light of the Equality Act 2010, which sets out the requirements on public bodies. 

The report recommends offering an additional hour free parking for Blue Badge holders, on top of the period paid for.  The aim is to provide the extra time that many Blue Badge holders require to carry out tasks. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for car parks, said:

“We recognise that many Blue Badge holders need extra time; therefore, we have been running a trial of an additional hour free for several months, and this report proposes to make that permanent. 

“We also hope that the other changes proposed will help to reduce fraud and abuse, and protect parking spaces for genuine users.”  

Further changes are being introduced as part of the Department for Transport (DfT) overhaul of the Blue Badge Scheme (Blue Badge Improvement Service), which includes the option for councils to apply a maximum of £10 for issuing Blue Badges.  

The changes in issuing and management of Blue Badges are designed to reduce fraud and abuse.  This puts additional costs on councils;  therefore, it is proposed that this cost is met by the charge of £10, which picks up most of the administrative costs.  

Shropshire Council handles approximately 5,000 Blue Badge applications a year, and has approximately 14,000 registered Blue Badge holders.     

Further information 

This concession applies to those car parks operated by Shropshire Council; those operated by other councils, and privately (such as NCP), have their own charging policy. 

This concession only applies to surface level car parks initially, and excludes the multi storey car park (Raven Meadows in Shrewsbury) because of the payment method there.  We are updating payment methods over the next 12 months, and aim to include the multi storey in the near future. 

Blue Badge holders are still able to park free on double yellow lines and in on-street parking spaces.