New Blue Badge launched

  • Wales
There are almost a quarter of a million blue badges in Wales Credit: ITV News Wales

A crack down on drivers who abuse the Blue Badge disabled parking system has been launched today.

It involves the introduction of newstyle windscreen badges, that are free for individual blue badge holders in Wales.

The new badges carry a range of security features that are being kept top-secret to ensure that they remain robust against forgery, and will make it easier for attendants to check details through the windscreen.

Helping launch the new-style badges today is disabled ex-serviceman and badge holder, Paul Davies, 49, from Bargoed. Former Royal Welch Fusilier Paul, who received an MBE in 2011 for services to rugby and army veterans, was paralysed from the waist down after being injured in a military rugby game in 1983. Paul says he encounters ‘space invaders’ on a regular basis.

In Wales there are around 230,000 blue badges in use, and 2.5million across the UK.

An official UK Government report has pointed to widespread abuse of the system either through forgery of badges or use of badges by those not entitled to use them.

In addition to the negative impact this has on disabled people, the report estimated that fraudulent or improper use of these badges also costs the UK a total of £46million a year in parking fee evasion.

The new blue badge scheme is part of the Welsh Government’s ‘A Modern Blue Badge for Wales Action Plan.’ The redesigned badge in Wales has been standardised with other parts of the UK after local authorities said this would make enforcement easier. Using the badges illegally carries a maximum penalty of £1000.

The official launch of the new badges takes place at Cardiff City Stadium today, aided by Cardiff Blues rugby players, who will be ‘picking up’ and moving illegitimately parked cars to raise awareness of the problem.

  • There will be a new national helpline for general enquiries for Blue Badges available from April 1st 2012. Please contact 0844 4630215

  • You will also now be able to apply for and renew a badge online via Directgov at www.direct.gov.uk

  • For further information please go to www.wales.gov.uk