Providing disabled parking bay markings for disabled
residents that require access to their property.
There are two types of disabled driver's bays:
Formal bay with signs
Usually in town/village centres where waiting restrictions
(yellow lines) exist.
A
Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is required to enable
enforcement (by the Police). They are only considered when a review
of waiting restrictions takes place in the area, normally every 3-5
years. TRO's usually take at least 12 months to implement.
Advisory bay with road markings only
Applied in residential areas and because they are only advisory,
there is no need to go through the lengthy TRO procedure. Although
they cannot be enforced, residents usually respect them.
Disabled parking bays (formal or advisory) are a facility for
disabled people and all disabled car users are allowed to park
within them - they are not for the sole use of an individual.
Advisory disabled bays do not formally restrict other vehicles from
parking in them but drivers normally respect the need to keep them
clear. A valid disabled badge must be displayed while
the vehicle is in the bay.
Note: applications for Ipswich should be
requested from Ipswich Borough
Council and applications for Bury St Edmunds should be
requested from St
Edmundsbury Borough Council.
Trunk
roads are not managed by Suffolk County Council.
To qualify for an advisory bay:
The guidelines that Suffolk County Council work to are that:
- applicant's mobility is dependent on having a vehicle directly
outside their property;
- applicant needs to be a disabled badge holder who cannot walk a
short distance (20 metres or so) without extreme difficulty;
- a bay will not normally be provided if the applicant does not
drive, unless the carer also has mobility problems;
- applicant is a car owner/driver, or live with a car
owner/driver;
- written supporting evidence by a doctor/occupational therapist
will be required for the disabled badge holder (and carer where
appropriate);
- the applicant has no off-street parking available or the
possibility of providing it.
If these conditions are met, Suffolk County Council will
normally be able to provide a marking provided there are no
unresolved concerns from consultees or road safety issues.
It will not be possible to provide an advisory marking
where:
- affected residents formally object
- the police object
- there are other legal restrictions on parking such as yellow
lines; or
- they may adversely affect road safety.
If the land where a marking is required is not on a public road,
assessment/provision is not the responsibility of Suffolk County
Council and would have to be agreed and funded by the
landowner.
How do I apply for a bay?
You can obtain a 'Disabled Advisory Parking Bay' application
form by contacting our
Customer Service
Centre. The applicant will need to provide written support
from a medical practitioner or occupational therapist (some doctors
may charge for this). The completed form and supporting
evidence should be sent to our
Customer Service
Centre. A Suffolk County Council engineer will assess the site
for road safety implications etc., and consult with interested
parties.
Consultation
Consultations will be necessary with parish/town councils, the
Police and any affected residents. Residents who may be affected by
the markings will be consulted and asked whether they will keep
that area of the road free.
The applicant will be notified of the outcome. If the
application is approved, Suffolk County Council will arrange for
the marking to be laid free of charge. To minimise costs the
work will be done when the County Council's contractor is next in
the area.
If for any reason the bay is no longer necessary the applicant
should inform Suffolk County Council so that removal can take
place.
Frequently asked questions:
Can I have a marking if I have frequent ambulance
visits?
No. The markings are only intended to provide a parking space
for the disabled person's own vehicle.
If my neighbour objects to me having a marking can I still have
it?
No. It is unlikely that advisory bays will be kept free if
neighbours are not supportive of the need.
What parking concessions do I get with my blue badge?
Blue
Badge holders may park with a badge and clock displayed for up
to 3 hours on a single or double yellow line (as long as no loading
restrictions are in force). The clock must be set to show the time
of arrival. Badge holders may park with the badge only displayed
without time limit at pay and display-parking bays (free of charge)
and without time limit on a designated on-street accessible parking
bay.