Disabled Parking Bays
September 2024 update
The way to get a residential disabled parking bay (a disabled bay near your home) is changing.
All new bays will be enforceable against non-blue badge holders. To make this happen, a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is required for each bay.
A TRO is a long and costly process. As a result, to keep bays free to applicants, we will:
- process new bays in two batches
- limit the number of new free bays to 50 a year
Applications past the 50 mark will roll over to the next year.
Processing to installation timeline (approximately)
- applications processed in August should be installed by the following January
- applications processed in February should be installed by July
Requests to install residential disabled parking bays outside of this process will take a minimum of 12 weeks. They are subject to full cost recovery.
Please see our current fees and charges.
Applications are still currently closed.
To be notified first when applications reopen, please register to complete our short expression of interest form.
Please note: If you previously applied before the suspension, please still complete the expression of interest form. We will require you to submit a new application when they reopen.
If you need a paper version of this form, please contact our Customer Service team on 01702 215000.
Requesting for a disabled bay near your home to be removed
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.
Requesting for a disabled bay near your home to be relined
Please email council@southend.gov.uk to make a request, providing details about the location of the bay and photographs of the faded bay if possible.
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 early September 2024.
You can view further information on our using your Blue Badge page.
For more information about accessible parking spaces view our council owned car parks directory.
There is set criteria that must be met:
- 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
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.
Advisory marked bays
Bays not accompanied by a sign plate are an advisory marked bay only. This means no parking enforcement can be carried out if a non-blue badge holder uses it.