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Blue badge

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Local councils can issue blue badges which allow parking in disabled bays in car parks, and free parking in pay and display car parks. These can be issued for mobility reasons, but also if a child poses a risk in traffic. 


Mobility badges are issued for severe mobility problems or are registered blind. Risk in traffic badges may be awarded for those with a mental or cognitive disorder which means they have little or no awareness of danger from traffic. 


The North Lanarkshire website states that there must be a diagnosis, however in recent years the council has successfully awarded badges to those without a diagnosis as long as they can provide some supporting evidence (such as a Child Disability Payment award). The form has a section for questions to be completed by a professional, such as a teacher, speech and language therapist or social worker. If there is no diagnosis the application is referred to an occupational therapist who will contact the applicant to talk through their responses; this is similar questions as are asked in the form, such as whether you would let your child take a trolley back through a carpark themselves unsupervised etc. 


Blue badges cost £20 for 3 years. Payment is requested once the application is successful. It will take approximately 6-8 weeks for the council to make their decision; payment is then requested then the badge is printed and issued which takes another approximately 2 weeks. 


Blue Badges can be issued to adults, children or to organisations which provide care. They can be used by badge holders who are drivers or travelling as passengers in any vehicle. 


Applications for mobility badges are made to the Scottish Government here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-for-blue-badge/how-to-apply 


Risk in Traffic applications should be made directly to the relevant council and cannot be done online due the evidence needed (however the form can be scanned and returned by email to save on postage costs). 


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