Using my Blue Badge

Types of disabled parking bays

Blue Badge holder only bays

These are parking bays with DISABLED marked in letters on the floor and are accompanied by the disabled bay sign plates which are available both on-street and in some of our Council car parks. These are enforceable and should only be used by Blue Badge holders. A valid Blue Badge must be clearly displayed in the vehicle. If there is no visible Blue Badge, you are at risk of receiving a PCN.

Please be aware that some bays may have a time limit and the clock must also be on display along with a valid Blue Badge. The sign plates next to the bay will tell you if there is a time limit.

Disabled bays near your home

Blue Badge holders may be eligible to apply for a disabled bay near their home. This will be an enforceable bay and can only be used by Blue Badge holders. It is not exclusively for the applicants use.

There is set criteria that must be met:

Criteria for disabled bay

• applicant must be registered disabled;
• applicant must be in receipt of the higher rate component of the Disability Living Allowance or the higher level of Personal Independence Payment (PIP); or
• applicant must be in receipt of the higher rate of Attendance Allowance;
• applicant must be a Blue Badge holder

Approval cannot be granted in the following circumstances

• where the applicant residence has an existing off-street parking, or the ability to create one
• where there is an existing waiting restriction at the location whereby it cannot be removed for traffic or safety reasons
• where the proposed location is within 10 metres of a junction

Applying for a disabled bay near your home

Applications for disabled bay installations are currently suspended. An update on applications will be provided on this webpage after 1st August 2024.

You can view further information on our using your Blue Badge page: Using my Blue Badge – Southend-on-Sea City Council

You can view our Council owned car park directory for more information about accessible parking spaces: Car parking – Southend-on-Sea City Council

Requesting for a disabled bay near your home to be removed

Before we can remove a disabled bay, we must first make sure it is no longer required. These investigations may take some time to complete.

Please email council@southend.gov.uk to make a request, providing details about the location of the bay and why you believe it is no longer required.

Key information

Bays not accompanied by a sign plate are an advisory marked bay only. This means no parking enforcement can be carried out if it is used by a non-blue badge holder.