Date published: 2026-05-29 | Category: Parking and Travel
Hundreds of Blue Badges were checked by Bath & North East Somerset Council during a week of action targeting misuse and protecting disabled motorists.
The council took part in a week-long campaign alongside 56 other councils, with the aim of removing as many misused Blue Badges as possible and making sure protected parking bays remain available for those who genuinely need them.
The council offers a range of accessible parking options throughout Bath and North East Somerset and allows Blue Badge holders to park all day for free at on-street pay & display locations, as well as in resident permit holder bays. For more information on accessible parking and to apply for a Blue Badge, visit the council’s website.
Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, said: ‘Blue Badges are a brilliant scheme, and we want to make sure it is not being abused. We have taken part in this campaign now for five years in a row to help protect Blue Badge holders and their parking bays by tackling misuse, which takes away parking and access to our places for those that really need it.
“It’s fantastic to see the vast majority of Blue Badges are being used correctly again this year, and although misuse of badges is rare it is of course something our Civil Enforcement Officers are out checking for every day, and a week of concentrated enforcement like this can really help make a difference and protect these spaces for those that really need it.”
B&NES Civil Enforcement Officers carried out 559 vehicle checks with additional support from its partner, OneWest. Checks found the vast majority of Blue Badges were being used correctly but several instances of misuse were identified, with nine badges seized.
Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to their destination so they can access goods and services.
Examples of Blue Badge misuse include:
- using a badge when the badge holder is not in the vehicle
- using a badge that belongs to a deceased person
- using an out of date/expired badge
ENDS