On 14 February 2011, the Transport Minister, Norman Baker, announced a programme of reforms to modernise the Blue Badge scheme to raise public confidence and tackle badge fraud and misuse.

The changes will include implementing a national database and revising the permits to include the overall security. The new design will:

• tackle badge fraud and misuse
• make the scheme fairer
• ensure that it remains relevant longer term for those disabled people who rely on it.

More disabled people can now qualify for a badge including carers of children under three with specific medical conditions. Continuous automatic entitlement has also been extended to eligible service personnel and veterans.

From 1 January 2012 all blue badges will be printed by one company and this will mean that the new design badge will be more secure, harder to copy or alter. The new national database will hold key details of badge holders, this will prevent multiple and fraudulent applications.

Legislation will also be passed to enable councils to increase the charge from a maximum of £2 to £10 per badge (valid for three years). This increase is the first to be made since 1983 and will offset the cost of producing the new more secure badge. We believe that this fee still represents good value for money and hope that applicants will recognise that the increase will lead to a scheme that is more rigorously enforced and is less open to abuse.

Have your say

The public consultation closed on 23 January 2012

For more information about the national changes please visit the Department for Transport website at www.dft.gov.uk