Walker Grange
Central Avenue
Tipton
West Midlands
DY4 9RY

Tel: 0121 520 0201
Fax: 0121 521 5687
Email: bluebadge_services@sandwell.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4.00pm

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

The Blue Badge Scheme provides parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The Scheme also applies to registered blind people, and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand.

The Scheme is meant to help only those people with very severe, permanent disabilities. People with temporary or intermittent difficulties such as a broken leg, will not qualify for the scheme. Also, children under two years of age do not qualify for a badge because they would not normally be expected to be able to walk independently.

Am I eligible for a Blue Badge?

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if:

• you receive the higher rate of mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. You would need to provide an official letter confirming an award of the allowance.

You may be eligible for a badge if:

• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. If this is the case, your doctor will be asked a series of questions to help determine whether or not you are eligible. He/she will have to assess whether you can walk more than 100 metres without stopping, severe discomfort or need the help of another person to do so. If you cannot, then you will qualify for a blue badge. This may include people with mental health difficulties.

How to apply for a Blue Badge

Blue Badges can be issued to you by post, from:

Walker Grange
Central Avenue
Tipton
West Midlands DY4 9RY

Tel: 0121 520 0201
Fax: 0121 521 5687
Email: bluebadge_services@sandwell.gov.uk
Office opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm

You can either:

1. Apply online for a Blue Badge or an Organisational Badge;
2. Phone to ask for an application pack to be sent to you in the post;
3. Collect an application pack from the following outlets:

• The Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury
• Independent Living Centre, 100 Oldbury Road, Smethwick
• Stoney Lane Day Centre, Stoney Lane, West Bromwich

In order for us to issue you with a Blue Badge, you will need to provide:

• £2.00 Cheque or Postal Order made payable to Sandwell M.B.C.; and
• Two passport-type photos, signed on the reverse by the applicant.

Your comments on our Blue Badge Service

We are currently reviewing the present system for issuing Blue Badges for people with disabilities. The purpose of the review is to implement future Government proposals, to enable us to improve on the quality service we offer and also to meet individual needs and choices.

We would welcome any comments that you have. Please email bluebadge_services@sandwell.gov.uk