Forum Topic

Blue badge holders parking in CPZs

What are the rules for blue badge holders parking in CPZs, can they just park anywhere?I often see several taxis displaying blue badges parked at the end of Clifden Road.  These taxis are regularly parked for 2 or 3 days at a time and I am fully aware that people often have hidden disabilities, but the taxi drivers do not live within the CPZ (I know because I see them walking from far and wide, and if they did live within the CPZ they could apply for a residents badge) which makes one wonder if they are legitimate badge holders?

Reg Ghosh ● 3064d8 Comments

No reason at all why a special permit for BRS residents with larger vans could not have a space there. But it would have to be secure with CCTV and probably a lockable bollard for security. Vans are very vulnerable.This would have to be at a higher permit rate but would at least accommodate small business residents of which we have a lot here.

Raymond Havelock ● 3061d

A friend of mine's son (Clifden Road) recently had his white van parking permit revoked as his vehicle was over the allowed height, or so I am told. Where he is parking now, I don't know. I have, however, noticed a lot of rather large vans parking in the Albany Parade car park overnight. Nothing to stop them I suppose as long as they are gone out of controlled hours.

Anne England ● 3062d

It's a tough one Guy.Whilst clearly, there re people trying it on and getting away with it, I don't really like to snitch on people.And part of that ( more so with Blue Badge issues ) is that I or we don't know the circumstances.Very annoying that having oversize vehicles parking in small streets and somehow getting permits is, I do have sympathy in that they do have to park somewhere, especially if they are residents.Maybe a bit more thought needs to be made to find satisfactory places where these can park at a much higher rate but only in designated places. And limited to a small amount of permits to not encourage more. i.e. residents of 5 years or more. But not allow locations where it impacts on homes and limited space so  it does not shut out the light or use up excessive space in smaller roads.

Raymond Havelock ● 3062d

Indeed you can. Same with oversize vehicles with CPZ permits. Let your local councillor know (if in doubt over other routes) and get it fixed. I have been involved in both issues in the last year or so.

Guy Lambert ● 3062d

If you think a blue badge is being used illegally you can report it.

Nicholas Beard ● 3062d

Problem is how to prove misuse.One of my wife's close friends was physically assaulted by a busybody who took exception to her parking in a disabled bay with a blue badge on display in a supermarket car park.She had returned to the car alone and waited in it.In fact, she had taken her now deceased mother and father (both of whom were disabled and infirm shopping, and left them to it).  The permit was for her mother and her father is the carer, but she is fully entitled to drive them in her car and use the permit for the purpose intended.So pointing the finger without possession of the facts is not really ideal.But the system is such that it can be abused and is a right mess in the way it is administered.  There are many in dire circumstances who should have one and others who most certainly should not.  But like so many things in this country, if you know how to play the system and are brazen enough you get and if you are honest and unassuming you get walked all over.

Raymond Havelock ● 3062d

Where you can park with a Blue Badge in Hounslowfree at any public parking meters or pay and display baysup to three hours on single or double yellow linesdisabled bays for as much time as you needon-street resident permit/ shared use bays within Hounslowall Hounslow car parks in the pay and display or disabled bays.The 4th line I would interpret as a CPZ bayIt’s a criminal offence to misuse a Blue Badge. So if you see this happening, please contact us immediately giving us their number plate and badge number if you can. Telephone: 8583 2111

Bernard Allen ● 3063d

You can use the blue badge to drive the holder around and if you are with them or waiting for them. Usually it is nominated for a few cars within the family or a full time carer.But the blue badge system is a costly mess. There are no dual blue badges and yet many carers are the suffers spouse or partner and very often also elderly and with disabilities but have to do all the running around. There ought to be joint blue badges for those in the same household who have disabilities and yet are also carers. But there are a fair few abuses going on in the CPZ.Several large vehicles well over the maximum size allowed are almost permanently parked outside homes taking up 2 or even 3 spaces and yet are displaying permits for residents vehicles.Yet there are other bona fide residents who have been denied permits for ordinary cars simply because their car is not registered to them i.e. it belongs to a business and is registered at the head office. You end up spending a lot of time and effort sorting it out and yet some seem to manage to completely evade the rules. One of the Key ones for here was the abundance of large vehicles filling up small streets. The CPZ certainly dealt with the worst of that. But really 6m long panel vans & well over 2m high, parked in small streets and shutting out light all day every day is taking the biscuit.Is there a fiddle going on?

Raymond Havelock ● 3063d