The Blue Badge Scheme provides national parking concessions for:
- People with severe walking difficulties, who travel either as drivers or passengers
- Registered blind people
- People with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand
Badge holders may park:
- Free of charge and without time limit in a 'pay and display' car park whether parked in a designated or standard bay. Some car parks may have a time restriction in a standard bay. Parking in Princes Street car park in Penrith is limited to a maximum stay of 2 hours and this restriction applies to all drivers including Blue Badge holders, a clock disc must be displayed when parking in Princes Street.
- Parking is also permitted in certain areas on-street as indicated in the explanatory information issued with your Blue Badge. Please check the signage when you park as some on-street parking areas may be time limited and a clock disc must be displayed in these areas.
- On single or double yellow lines for up to three hours. (Except where there is a ban on loading and unloading or where access is needed by emergency services)
- Parking is not permitted in on-street areas restricted for loading/unloading, the restrictions in force will be shown by plates displayed at the kerb side of the road.
Please ensure that the Blue Badge is correctly displayed on the vehicle dashboard with the wheelchair user symbol and expiry date clearly visible and when required your clock disc.
For further information, please consult your Blue Badge Guide. Copies are available from the Social Services Department please see below for contact details.
Changes to the Enforcement of the Blue Badge Scheme
To help stop improper use and abuse of the blue badge scheme, the Department for Transport introduced guidelines to allow police officers, traffic wardens, local authority parking attendants and civil enforcement officers to inspect badges upon request. The changes came into force on 29 September 2006 and should you be asked to produce your badge for inspection please do so, as it is now an offence to fail to produce a badge when requested.
For Further Information and How to Apply
If you would like further information about the scheme or would like to apply for a blue badge please contact Cumbria Social Services please see below for contact details.
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Contact: Cumbria Social Services, Friargate, Penrith CA11 7NX
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Telephone: (01768) 242243
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Email: penrithssd@cumbriacc.gov.uk
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Fax: (01768) 242260
