Blue parking badges allow cars carrying people who are registered blind or people who have severe walking difficulties to park near shops, stations and other facilities.

Blue car badges are part of a nationally recognised disabled parking scheme. You can find out more from the Department for Transport website.

Blue Badge Scheme Changes

From 1 January 2012, a new style Blue Badge will be introduced nationwide. Local Authorities are obliged to issue these new badges in all cases from 1 January 2012.

Blue Badge usage and benefits remain unchanged, but the badge is more tamperproof. Details of badge-holders will be held nationwide to allow local authorities to cross match application details and assist parking enforcement.

Blue Badge Fee

Please note that from 1 April 2012, the charge for each blue badge issued will be £10.

You can apply for a blue badge in Trafford in one of these three ways:

1. Online, by completing this form
2. Telephone us on 0161 912 2000
3. Calling into your local Trafford library

Please note that all applications require you to attend an assessment appointment where your application will be approved, rejected or referred for an independent mobility assessment. If your application is approved we will take your picture and you will need to pay the badge fee.

If your Blue Car Badge has been lost or stolen please complete the following actions:

1. Report to the police and you will be given a reference number
2. Contact us to arrange for a replacement to be provided, either by calling 0161 912 2000 or in person at your local Trafford library

You are eligible if:

• You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• You receive a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
• You use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government health department
• You are registered blind
• You have severe upper arm disabilities in both arms and regularly drive a non-adapted vehicle but cannot operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating all or some types of parking meter
• You have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. In this case we may ask you more questions to help us determine whether you are eligible for a badge
• You have a child under the age of three with specific medical conditions. The badge will expire the day after the child’s third birthday. After this point they will be required to apply for a Blue Badge in the same fashion as other children over the age of three years.

This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you provide for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

Badges for children under the age of three will expire on the day after the child’s third birthday. They will then be required to apply for a Blue Badge in the same fashion as children over the age of three.

The period of issue of a badge will be linked to the period of receipt of the Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement where that period is less than 3 years. In all other cases, including where Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement has been granted for life, the three-year period of issue will be retained as the maximum.

Organisations caring for disabled people meeting the above criteria may be able to get a badge, but this is entirely at our discretion.