Blue Badge Holders

solitaryromeo

Hi, I just want to know that in england can you park on ON-Street pay and display car parking for UNLIMITED period of time? I have a time disc with my badge which states Max 3 hours. Is this the case? I have seen a few peoples discs that had been set more than 3 hours ago.

Thanks

DJBenson

In ENGLAND the limit is three hours on street parking and up to the limits designated by the signs on the off-street parking. Some car parks offer unlimited parking for blue badge holders, some only 3 hours (and some, as we found out earlier this week, none).

The rules are different in SCOTLAND which offers unlimited parking on street, normal rules apply to off street parking.

Ames

It depends where you are, different councils have different rules. In Lincoln you can park in car parks for an unlimited time for free. In Leeds I've just read on the website that on street you can park unlimited, in bays it's four hours.

Biggles

You get a booklet with your badge that explains the details.

A copy is available online http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/pubs/factsheets/thebluebadgescheme.pdf

happi_2

In some parts of London you can only use your badge for an hour (even if it has 3 hrs printed on it) and in order to do this you still have to buy a pay and display ticket (usually for the minimum payment). It's really confusing so agree that it's best to check the regulations online and would also check the pay and display machines just in case.

JayWalker

In some parts of London you can find yourself ticketed (and fined) for less than 5 minutes' parking. It varies from borough to borough and opposite sides of the same street can even have different regulations! It appears that they are not obliged to display their rules at the point of parking, so you really need to check before you visit an area.

It is possible to appeal on the grounds of not knowing their regulations are different to everywhere else, but they will only consider one such appeal per person.

somebody_else

solitaryromeo wrote: »

Hi, I just want to know that in england can you park on ON-Street pay and display car parking for UNLIMITED period of time? I have a time disc with my badge which states Max 3 hours. Is this the case? I have seen a few peoples discs that had been set more than 3 hours ago.

Thanks

Although it's always a good idea to check your local regulations, in theory you can park for free on street(ie, in a marked parking bay) for an unlimited period (but do check the nearest meter before leaving the car), and up to 3 hours on a double or single yellow line (that's where the Max 3 hours comes in).

In a car park it's always a good idea to check the meter before leaving the car park, because some do charge for parking and some don't. I'm afraid ignorance of the rules won't always get you off a fine.

Keep an eye out for on street disabled bays - they are frequently time limited, sometimes for as little as an hour, depending on location.

I think you'll find that more and more LAs are moving towards charging BB holders for parking in the car parks, and you won't always get any notice that it's going to happen - especially if like me you don't get into town more than 3 or 4 times a year, so even if they put notices up for a couple of weeks, you won't have seen them before the charges come into force. This happened to me a few months ago. I hadn't been into town for some time, and the next time I did, I didn't realise that the car park I used had starting charging all users. I was fortunate in that the attendants were still present and they did give me a pass to get out that time, but now if I use that car park I have to pay the same as anyone else.

Apologies if any of this post strays into teaching granny to suck eggs territory.

Babshubbie

It is important to remember that the Blue Badge is not a licence to park on street anywhere. You cannot park if the kerb is painted with two yellow marks (meaning loading prohibited) and if it is painted with one yellow mark you can not park there during the times indicated on the plates displayed nearby (loading prohibited during specified times)

TOBRUK

Babshubbie wrote: »

if it is painted with one yellow mark you can not park there during the times indicated on the plates displayed nearby (loading prohibited during specified times)

In the village I can park on a single yellow line where there are signs prohibiting parking between 8am-6pm. I even asked the Traffic Warden and a policeman - they told me I was fine parking there.

Babshubbie

TOBRUK wrote: »

In the village I can park on a single yellow line where there are signs prohibiting parking between 8am-6pm. I even asked the Traffic Warden and a policeman - they told me I was fine parking there.

I agree. It isn't the yellow line in the gutter area but the yellow mark painted on the kerb (at right angles to the road). These are loading restrictions.

hilstep2000

Depends on the local authority. In Hastings we can park for three hours in council car parks, but only in disabled bays otherwise you have to pay. No parking at all in residents permits bays, and as long as you want on pay and display bays.
In Eastbourne, all but one car parks are free anywhere for three hours. One car park is free if you have a disabled carwith freetax!
Best to find out from yur local authority, or if going away phone and ask.