Blue Badge Holders Warned Over Potential Off-Street Parking Fees

Disabled drivers across Buckinghamshire are being urged to double-check local signage as they could face new charges in off-street car parks.

While Blue Badge holders currently enjoy free parking in the county’s on-street disabled bays, parking meters, and pay-and-display spots, the local council has warned that different restrictions frequently apply to off-street car parks—including those run by the local authority itself.

The looming threat of additional costs for disabled drivers comes on the heels of controversial county-wide parking charge increases implemented earlier this year. Recently, most standard parking tariffs were bumped up by 10p to 20p, and the cost of a primary resident’s parking permit climbed from £66 to £73.

Alongside the potential for new fees, Buckinghamshire Council is continuing to clamp down heavily on the misuse of disabled parking spaces. Recent enforcement operations across towns like Marlow, Aylesbury, and Beaconsfield have seen multiple drivers slapped with Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking in disabled bays without displaying a valid Blue Badge, as well as the seizure of expired permits.