Disabled parking bays

Advisory disabled parking bays

Advisory disabled bays are white-lined residential spaces that are not legally enforced, relying on driver courtesy to remain free. Registered Blue Badge holders can apply for a residential disabled bay to be marked on the street outside or near their home.

These bays serve as advisory markings on the road, indicating that a disabled person resides nearby and that the space is the most convenient for their parking needs. The bays are not reserved for any specific individual and will not be enforced by the Council or the Police.

There are costs and requirements for the installation of these bays. These are detailed below.

Personal requirements

In order to qualify for an advisory disabled bay you must:

• Be a Blue Badge holder in receipt of higher/enhanced rate for independence/mobility within Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Attendance Allowance if aged 65+
• Have a vehicle registered at the address

Evidence of the above must be provided upon request.

Location requirements

The location of the advisory disabled bay must be:

• On Adopted Public Highway (marked in yellow on the Highway Register map)
• Not subject to any waiting restrictions (no yellow lines in place)
• Not be within 15 metres of a junction
• On the road, not the footway
• Not outside a property that has a driveway, garage or any other off-street parking
• Not within 50 metres of another existing advisory disabled parking bay
• On a street at least 7 metres wide
• In a location that will not interfere with or impede traffic flow

Other things to consider

• While intended for a specific disabled resident, any Blue Badge holder can technically use these bays. Even if it is outside your house and you have paid for it's installation. It is not 'your parking bay'
  Any attempt to restrict other people parking in the bay, by cones or verbal action, will lead to the bay being removed
• Speak to your neighbours first. We will consult them about the proposed bay location. If any valid objections are received, the application will be refused. There will be no right of appeal against this decision
• Permission may be sought to consult with Adult Services if the need arises

Fees for this service

The applicant will pay an initial fee of £150 for marking the disabled parking bay on the carriageway.

In the future, if the bay needs to be repainted because of street works or resurfacing, the Council or the contractors involved will reinstate the bay at our/their expense. If you would like the bay repainted because it has simply faded away over time, then a fee of £100 will be charged.

If the bay is no longer required, a removal fee of £250 will apply.

Dimensions

Length of bay - between 6.6m and 7.0m. Width of bay - between 2.0m and 2.7m

Applications

To make an application, please complete and submit the online form:

Residential disabled parking bay request

Your application will then be assessed against the above requirements. While the Council aims to apply the marking as soon as possible, the process may take up to 3 months, depending on weather conditions, from the date of payment.

Supplementary signs

We have no objection to you placing a ‘parking for disabled resident’ sign on your property, as long as it is not too large, misleading, or offensive. It must not be on the public pavement or attached to a lamp post or existing sign post.

Our sign shop can provide these for you at your own cost. For more information, please contact signshop@bolton.gov.uk.