Changes to the UK-wide Disabled Persons' Parking Badge Scheme take effect from 1 January.
Anyone who is due to renew their blue badge after 1 January will have to complete a new application form, provide a passport standard photo and meet revised criteria for eligibility.
We will continue to administer the scheme in this area, and we're informing residents of the changes recently announced by the Scottish Government. The new scheme will change the design of the badge, aims to improve consistency and best practice across local authorities and will enable more effective enforcement of the scheme.
Councillor Barry McCulloch, Convener of the Housing and Social Work Committee, said: "Nationally, the new scheme has been designed to cut down on abuse of blue badges and people misusing car parking spaces provided for disabled people. The scheme aims to help people most in need, and to support people with a disability to be active citizens and use the facilities in their communities."
If an individual is in receipt of a qualifying benefit or is registered blind they are eligible for a blue badge without further assessment. In addition, from January people who receive an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will also be eligible without further assessment.
Where people do not fall into one of these categories, they may still be eligible subject to further assessment. People will be eligible if they have a permanent and substantial medical condition which affects their mobility so they are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk.
Assessments will be carried out by an occupational therapist employed by the council rather than by a GP.
Individuals may also be eligible if they drive a car and have a severe disability in both arms, or they have children under three years who have medical needs that require them to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment or need to be transported quickly to receive medical treatment.
We are sending letters to people whose badge is due for renewal in January and February to advise them of the changes along with details of the new application process.
People with a current blue badge do not need to do anything until their renewal date.
Visit http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=23395 to find out more.
