More than 200 Blue Badges were recently checked as part of a national day of action to tackle their misuse.
An enforcement officer checking a Blue Badge in Bath | Photo © B&NES Council
The coordinated campaign saw 77 councils from across the UK take part, with the aim of protecting disabled motorists and parking bays by removing as many misused Blue Badges as possible.
Blue Badges make it easier and safer for people with mobility issues to stay active and go about everyday activities like shopping, attending social events and medical appointments.
They allow drivers and passengers to park in designated bays closer to their destination, helping them access goods and services which can be vital for those with mobility limitations.
There are currently almost 10,000 registered Blue Badge holders in Bath & North East Somerset.
B&NES Civil Enforcement Officers carried out 204 vehicle checks, with additional support from its partner, OneWest, including vehicles entering through the security bollards at Cheap Street.
Checks found the majority of Blue Badges were being used correctly, but several instances of misuse were identified.
Three badges were seized (1.4% of all badges checked), one more than the council seized in last year’s day of action.
Across Bath & North East Somerset, there are 196 off-street and 175 on-street disabled parking bays.
The council allows Blue Badge holders to park all day for free at on-street pay & display locations, as well as in resident permit holder bays. For more information on accessible parking visit the council’s website.
Examples of Blue Badge misuse include:
- Using a badge when the badge holder is not in the vehicle
- Using a badge that belongs to a deceased person
- Using an out-of-date/expired badge
Councillor Joel Hirst, cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: ‘Blue Badges are an immense help to their holders, allowing them to go about daily life whilst minimising the impact of their disability.
“That’s why our continued participation in the Blue Badge Day of Action, alongside the daily routine checks our Civil Enforcement Officers carry out, is so important and shows our commitment to tackling Blue Badge misuse. Almost all of the Blue Badges we checked were being used lawfully, which is really great to see.”
It is the fourth time the national campaign has taken place, with 142 councils involved in last year’s day of action where 10,040 Blue Badges were inspected, 182 of which were seized.
The council has seized 86 Blue Badges in the last three years.
