Blue Badge holders are able to park closer to their destination either as the driver or passenger. Blue Badge is a national scheme that is open to individuals who qualify and organisations that care for those individuals.
If you live in Cheshire East you should only apply for a Blue Badge from our website. Be aware that other websites may charge you for the application of the badge as well as the cost of the badge.
Qualifying for a Blue Badge in Cheshire East
To be eligible for a blue badge you must have an enduring and substantial disability, meaning it will last at least 3 years:
- have a disability which means you are not able to walk
- have a disability and have a great difficulty walking from a car to where you want to go
- have a disability which means that you are likely to come to harm when you are walking
- have a disability and you are likely to harm someone when you are walking
- are registered blind
- are getting certain benefits (Attendance Allowance is not a qualifying benefit for a blue badge)
- became disabled while you were serving in the armed forces
- drive a vehicle (probably adapted) and have a disability in both of your arms
- have a disabled child under 3 years old and you always have medical equipment with them that is hard to carry or you always have to be close to the vehicle in case of emergency
You will be eligible without further assessment (automatic qualifiers) if you are aged over two and:
- receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance, or
- receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have obtained 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity, or
- receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for Descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress, or
- are registered blind (severely sight impaired), or
- receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement, or
- have been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability (meaning it will last at least 3 years) which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking
You may still be eligible if you have an enduring and substantial disability (meaning it will last at least 3 years) which causes you, during the course of a journey to:
- be unable to walk, or
- experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress, or
- be at risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person
You may have to attend an impartial assessment for those with a walking disability.
Any of the above three types of difficulty whilst walking could potentially be caused by a physical disability, or by a non-visible ('hidden') disability.
Examples include Arthritis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD), Dementia, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
You may also be eligible if you drive a vehicle regularly and have a severe disability in both arms and you are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all, or some types of parking meter.
Apply for or renew a Blue Badge
You can apply for a blue badge as an individual or as an organisation. You can use the same form to apply on behalf of someone else with their permission.
You can renew your blue badge up to 8 weeks before your existing badge expires.
Please allow up to 5 weeks from making a successful application and providing supporting evidence to receiving your blue badge.
Our staff can help you if you are unable to apply online. Call us on 0300 123 5020.
Apply for or renew a Blue Badge for an individual
Apply for or renew a Blue Badge for an organisation
Progress a Blue Badge application
If you have already submitted an application for a new or for a renewal badge you can;
pay for it, upload supporting evidence online, book an impartial assessment if required online.
You should have your application reference number ready (this starts with SR followed by 7 digits). It was given to you when you sent your application.
You will only need to book an impartial assessment online when advised to do so. Assessment appointments take place at;
- Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or at
- The Redesmere Centre, Redesmere Road, Handforth, Wilmslow SK9 3RX on Tuesdays and Thursdays
If you are requested to book an assessment appointment online the appointment that you book will take place on the date you have chosen or the date that is allocated to you if we book the appointment for you.
Appointments take place face to face at the venue chosen and you need to attend the appointment in person.
Pay for a Blue Badge
Upload supporting evidence
Book an assessment appointment
Replacement badges
You can apply for a replacement badge if:
- your badge has been damaged
- your badge has been lost or stolen
- your badge has not been received
Apply for a replacement badge
Blue Badge costs
Applying for a blue badge on our website or using GOV.UK is free but if you are eligible there is then a £10 fee for the blue badge production. You may be charged if you make a blue badge application using another website. You can have your blue badge photo taken for free at the library (apart from Prestbury library).
You may wish to contact Citizens Advice Consumer Services if you have been charged a fee for a blue badge by an organisation other than us. Citizens Advice can tell you how to report this and if you can get your money back
How long your badge is valid
A blue badge is valid for 3 years.
If your blue badge is linked to higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or Personal Independence Payment, your badge will be valid for the period that you are in receipt of that allowance (if that period is less than 3 years).
If you have a blue badge because your child has a condition which means they need close access to medical equipment or a vehicle to be taken for treatment quickly and is under 3 years old, the badge will be valid until the day immediately following their 3rd birthday. A new application will need to be made before this date if a badge is still needed after this date.
Where you can use your Blue Badge
With a blue badge you can park in designated disabled parking bays.
In many car parks in Cheshire East drivers with a valid badge can park free in any other marked bay if the designated spaces are full. All vehicles must park in a marked bay and no parking is allowed on any yellow lines or hatched areas within the car parks. The blue badge doesn’t automatically apply to off-street car parks or on private roads. Check signs on private car parks and private roads for their policy for blue badge holders.
Parking charges and time limits don’t apply to blue badge holders on all Cheshire East Council Pay and Display car parks when a valid badge is correctly displayed.
Blue Badges may be used within the European Union (EU), although rules for use vary in different member states. Further information about using a Blue Badge in the EU can be found on the GOV.UK website.
More information on the use of a blue badge is available in the Department for Transport booklet - The Blue Badge scheme booklet: rights and responsibilities in England (PDF, 1.57MB).
Disabled parking bays
As a blue badge holder you can be assessed for a disabled parking bay close to your property if you have no off street parking. To request a disabled parking bay, email eastfpoc@cheshireeast.gov.uk or phone 0300 123 5010 and select option 2.
You should be aware that some roads are not suitable disabled parking bays.
Found and expired badges
If you have found a blue badge, yours has expired or you are returning a badge for someone who has passed away, you should take it to your Local Library (apart from Prestbury library) or Customer Service Centre.
You can also post the badge to the:
Benefits Section
Cheshire East Council
PO Box 622
Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 9JH
Fighting fraud
We want to provide parking facilities for people with disabilities. We would encourage you to report any misuse of blue badges. Badges are strictly for use only by the badge holder. They’re not for use by family or friends for free parking. It's fraud and a criminal offence for someone other than the blue badge holder to use the badge.
For more information on the Council’s enforcement policies see Enforcement policy (cheshireeast.gov.uk) Open in new window
To report potential Blue Badge fraud or abuse contact the Blue Badge Team
Appeals
You can ask us to reconsider your application if we have said you are not eligible for a blue badge. View our Appeal Policy and Procedure (PDF, 81KB).
You can expect the appeal process to take up to 6 weeks.
Appeal a Blue Badge decision
Blue Badge holders from abroad
There are separate rules depending on whether the badge holder is from an EU or non-EU country and whether the badge will be honoured in the country they are visiting.
Before travelling to another country, a customer is advised to read the rules in force in that country and they may need to make more enquiries. More information is available on the GOV.UK website - National scheme guidance and advice on use for those coming to the EU.
For EU residents coming to the UK our Parking Card is the same as a UK blue badge.
We advise the customer to always;
- display a clock – we can provide one if a customer requests one
- display a clock for on-street parking and it is good practice to display in a car park.
- displays a Disability Parking Card Notice in addition to your Parking Card
For residents of non-EU countries coming to the UK your badge will not be recognised even if you display this with a clock and any documentation. Cheshire East do not have any concessions available. You are not eligible to claim a blue badge whilst in the UK.
More information on the use of Blue Badges is available from the Department for Transport - Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in England.
Any queries should be directed to car parking if you receive a ticket.
Our staff can help you if you are unable to apply for or renew a badge online. Call us on 0300 123 5020.
The lines are open Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00PM