Having to pay and display even with Blue Badge?

harveybobbles

First time I've come across this.. Got appointment to see neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre in Liverpool this week and was just looking on their website about parking.. It says even with a BB you still have to pay?

I always thought that BB holders didn't have to pay for parking? Or is it different for certain carparks?

Poppie68

Our local hospital is free for BB holders but in the local town only 2 out of 8 carparks is free.

sueturnersmith

Most of our local car parks have changed, and now charge the full amount.

sheeps68

It is different everywhere and varies between local authorities.

Always check it out and presume you will have to pay to be on the safe side.

Generally if it's a council owned car park there is a higher chance of not paying in comparison to a commercially owned car park.

The other oddity you occasionally come across is only exempt from fee's is with a tax exempt viechle. How that works in reality now I do not know since you no longer have tax discs. You come across this it seems most often in seaside holiday areas but not exclusively.

JaneDoeJohnDoe

Don't forget you can park on a double yellow line with a blue badge for up to 3 hrs so long as it's not an obstruction. Near me there's a council car park that charges Disabled drivers, so the disabled bays are empty whilst the road leading to it has a row of blue-badged cars on double yellows!

kingfisherblue

Yes, it varies. In St. Helens, there is no free BB parking on council car pars or in hospital car parks. At Alder Hey we pay as well.


If you are on certain income related benefits, you might be able to get travel costs paid. When we go to Alder Hey, we receive a fixed amount, plus the cash office validate the car park ticket (so that I don't have to pay), but this is because I receive income support, not because my son has a BB. You need to take proof of benefit if you want to claim back any travel expenses.

lemontart

harveybobbles wrote: »

First time I've come across this.. Got appointment to see neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre in Liverpool this week and was just looking on their website about parking.. It says even with a BB you still have to pay?

I always thought that BB holders didn't have to pay for parking? Or is it different for certain carparks?

It varies, if use private run hospital car park at kgh have to pay - we pay on exit but if bb holder you can go to their onsite office for discounted rate. If you are lucky there are disabled spots dotted around the hospital grounds but we have major parking issues daily at the hospital so hard to get. Even the private car park is often full with long waits for spaces.

dori2o

As has been said it differs from council to council.

All on road parking bays are free, that is the same across the country although they can be time limited in some circumstances.

In Oldham where I live there is only 1 council run car park that is free, In Rochdale all disabled parking is free and Ashton it's a bit hit and miss.

The idea of a blue badge though is not to provide free parking it's to provide accessible parking. Generally the disabled bays are situated closest to the entrance of the car park or closest to the amenities that the car park services.

The bays are also generally wider allowing for wide opening doors etc.

dori2o

lemontart wrote: »

It varies, if use private run hospital car park at kgh have to pay - we pay on exit but if bb holder you can go to their onsite office for discounted rate. If you are lucky there are disabled spots dotted around the hospital grounds but we have major parking issues daily at the hospital so hard to get. Even the private car park is often full with long waits for spaces.

We are the same at Oldham hospital. It doesn't help matters though when they keep expanding the size of the hospital by building on top of the car parks.

tea-bag

Why should you not have to pay for car parking? I just don't get this constant thinking of entitlement people have.

(I do beleave nobody should have to pay for hospital car parks btw)

SingleSue

All our council car parks charge for disabled parking although you get double the time of the ticket if a blue badge is displayed.