Parking - Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. What are Disabled Parking Spaces (DPS)?
2. Who can use them?
3. What happens if a non-Blue Badge Holder parks in a DPS?
4. Who can apply?
5. Can I apply if I have a garage or driveway?
6. Can I apply if I do not have a car?
7. Can I apply if there are double yellow lines outside my house?
8. Can I apply if my house is on a main road?
9. Can I apply if I live in a property belonging to a housing association or housing society?
10. Is there a charge?
11. I think I qualify so how do I apply for a DPS?
12. What supporting information do I need to supply?
13. If I cannot apply for a DPS can I have an H-bar marking instead?
14. How do I apply for an H-bar marking?
15. What happens if my circumstances change, such as if I move house, and the DPS is no longer necessary?
16. Where can I find out more information on eligibility for the mobility  component of the Disability Living Allowance?
    

Answers

1. Q. What are they?
   A. A disabled parking space (DPS) is a parking bay for the use of a vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge. They are intended to assist disabled people who do not have a garage, driveway or other off-street parking and have difficulty parking near their homes.
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2. Q. Who can use them?
   A. Any vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge is entitled to park in a DPS. The DPS is not reserved solely for the resident whose home it is outside.
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3. Q. What happens if a non-Blue Badge Holder parks in a DPS?
   A. Disabled parking spaces are legally enforceable. Any driver without a Blue Badge who parks in one runs the risk of receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice from the Police  or a Penalty Charge Notice from a Civil Enforcement Officer employed by your local City or District Council.
   
   Offenders should be reported to the relevant City/District Council via the Worcestershire Hub by calling 0845 607 2005 or by e-mail to worcestershirehub@worcestershire.gov.uk.
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4. Q. Who can apply?
   

   A. To apply for a DPS you or someone in your household MUST:

   • Be disabled and hold a valid Blue Badge

   • Own or have direct access to a vehicle which is registered and kept at your address
        
     AND
     

   • Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
     
     OR
     
   • If aged over 65, the beneficiary may not be eligible for DLA. If that is the case, alternative evidence of receipt of the higher rate of Attendance Allowance and a letter from a medical practitioner confirming that the applicant would meet the Department for Work and Pensions criteria for the higher rate of mobility component of DLA must be provided.

    

   • Children under 3 are not eligible for the mobility component of DLA. Applications on their behalf will be considered on their individual merits. Evidence of receipt of the middle or higher rates of the care component of DLA and a supporting letter from a medical practitioner must be provided.
     
   • There must also be a limited supply of on-street parking on the street outside your home and you must experience difficulty in parking nearby because of existing parking pressure.
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5. Q. Can I apply if I have a garage or driveway?
   
   A. No. Applications cannot be considered where properties have existing off-street parking (such as a garage or a driveway) or where there is scope to convert garden space to hard standing within current regulations.
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6. Q. Can I apply if I do not have a car?
   A. No. Disabled parking spaces can only be provided where a household has direct access to a vehicle which is registered and kept at the address.  Vehicles picking-up or dropping-off passengers can stop legitimately to do this even if it means blocking the road for a short period.
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7. Q.  Can I apply if there are double yellow lines outside my house?
   A. No. It is not possible to provide a DPS on a road which has existing parking restrictions.
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8. Q. Can I apply if my house is on a main road?
   A. DPS requests will generally not be considered outside a property situated on an A or B-class road, main distributor roads or traffic sensitive streets. This is because introducing a DPS in these conditions could create a road safety hazard or cause congestion.
   
   They will also generally not be considered in areas of significant landscape conservation or where an area of outstanding natural beauty has been designated because of the potentially adverse impact on the environment.
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9. Q. Can I apply if I live in a property belonging to a housing association or housing society?
   A. Requests should be referred to your housing association or housing society.
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10. Q. Is there a charge?
    A. No, disabled parking spaces are provided free of charge. However, due to the large number of requests that are received for these facilities and budgetary constraints, the requests have to be prioritised. This means that there will be a lengthy wait before the DPS can be implemented, should your request be successful.
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11. Q. I think I qualify so how do I apply for a DPS?
    A. Please contact the Worcestershire Hub on 0845 607 2005
    
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12. Q. What supporting information do I need to supply?
    A. You will need to supply evidence that:
    
    • You own a car or one is registered at your address – your Vehicle Registration Document (V5 - logbook) showing the registered keeper or, in the case of a Motability vehicle, the Motability hire agreement is required.
    • Proof of receipt of the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (certification from the Department of Work and Pensions).

    OR

    • If aged over 65, the beneficiary may not be eligible for DLA. If that is the case, alternative evidence of receipt of the higher rate of Attendance Allowance and a letter from a medical practitioner confirming that the applicant would meet the Department for Work and Pensions criteria for the higher rate of mobility component of DLA must be provided.
    • Children under 3 are not eligible for the mobility component of DLA. Applications on their behalf will be considered on their individual merits. Evidence of receipt of the middle or higher rates of the care component of DLA and a supporting letter from a medical practitioner must be provided.

    Please note any costs incurred in obtaining a letter from a medical practitioner must be met by the applicant.
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13. Q. If I cannot apply for a DPS can I have an H-bar marking instead?
    A. H-bar markings can be considered for Blue Badge holders who have a garage, drive or off-street parking space provided they meet the other eligibility criteria and substantial proven access obstruction occurs.
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14. Q. How do I apply for an H-bar marking?
    A. You will need to complete the same application form and supply the same supporting information.
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15. Q. What happens if my circumstances change, such as if I move house, and the DPS is no longer necessary?
    A. You must inform us as soon as possible via the Worcestershire Hub if your circumstances change or if you vacate the property.
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16. Q. Where can I find out more information on eligibility for the mobility  component of the Disability Living Allowance?
    A. Further information can be found on the DirectGov website  or download a copy of the DLA claim form.
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This page was last reviewed 25 January 2013 at 15:38.
The page is next due for review 24 July 2014.