Blue Badge - Disabled Parking
Last updated: 15 May 2013 12:24 UKWe are responsible for the issue of all blue badges in Portsmouth, which covers all postcodes between PO1 and PO6. If you live outside of this area, for example in Waterlooville, Fareham or Gosport, you will need to contact Hampshire County Council to apply for a Blue Badge.
We are also responsible for the issuing and enforcement of disabled parking bays.
The blue badge scheme provides a national range of parking concessions for disabled people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport.
It is designed to help severely disabled people to travel independently, as either a driver or passenger, by allowing them to park close to their destination.
If you'd like to know more, you can look at our frequently asked questions or contact us.
Important Information
A new Blue Badge is being launched from 1 January 2012 in England and Scotland and later in Wales. It is part of the UK Government’s reform programme.
The new badge will make it easier to crack down on fraud. It will make it easier for the severely disabled people who rely on the Blue Badge scheme to find a parking space. The changes will improve customer service and speed up the time it takes to renew Blue Badges.
The following changes will take effect from 1 January 2012 in England and Scotland:
Badges have been redesigned to make them harder to alter, copy or forge. The new badges will be made of a combination of PVC and PET instead of cardboard and will be more robust.
Badges will cost £10 to cover the costs of administration, production and postage. This is the first time the fee has been increased since 1983.
From 1 January 2012:
You will be able to apply for and renew a badge online via Directgov at http://www.direct.gov.uk/.
Those applying and renewing online will be able to track the progress of their application. The address for people to use to access the online form will be www.direct.gov.uk/bluebadge.
There will also be an eligibility checker for those who want to find out if they are eligible for a badge.
Those who use the on-line application form can sign up for text and email reminders at renewal time.
Applying for or renewing a badge might mean completing a different application form to one you may have completed before. This may also involve providing different information so that your local authority can process your application more effectively and take an informed decision about whether or not you need to have a mobility assessment
Portsmouth City Council will still be in charge of administering the Blue Badge scheme and issuing badges to Portsmouth residents.
From 1 April 2012, badge holders will be able to report lost and stolen badges and update changes to their details online.
If you'd like to know more, you can look at our changes to the Blue Badge Scheme frequently asked questions or contact us.
Collection Of Badges
We are no longer sending Blue Badges out by post; this is due to problems we have encountered with postage and to remove the risk of fraudulent applications being processed. We will therefore contact applicants when their Blue Badge is ready for collection so please ensure that you provide us with a daytime telephone number where you can be reached. Applicants will need to bring proof of identification with them when they come to collect their badge, which can be in the form of a birth/adoption certificate, passport or driving licence.
Blue Badge Independent Mobility Assessments (IMAs)
Please be advised that from 5th September 2011, we will no longer refer Blue Badge applications to applicant's GPs and now arrange for applicants who do not meet the automatic qualification criteria to attend an independent mobility assessment (IMA) held at the Frank Sorrell Centre in Prince Albert Road, Southsea. Applicants will receive a telephone call from the Blue Badge section to arrange an appointment when their application has been processed. A map giving directions to the centre will be sent to applicants once an appointment has been made; the map can also be seen by clicking here.
Contact Us
To request an application form for a Blue Badge you can:
- Call us on 023 9284 1176
- Email us at bluebadges@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
- Write to us at
Transport and Environment, Alec Rose Lane, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2BX
For Hampshire County Council you can:
- Call them on 0845 6035633
- Write to them at
Blue Badge Unit, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UG
