The Scheme
The National Orange Badge Scheme began in 1971 and was replaced by the European Blue Badge Scheme in April 2000. The scheme provides parking concessions for drivers and passengers with severe disabilities. The badges are issued to people with a physical disability, or those who are registered blind, and who need to be able to park close to their destination.
However, because of the serious parking problems and traffic congestion in central London, the Secretary of State for Transport decided when the scheme was introduced that these concessions would not apply in the central London area. Because of this, the boroughs concerned (The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster, City of London and London Borough of Camden) have set up special disabled badge schemes for people that live, work or study in the central area. You can apply direct to these boroughs for details of their own schemes.
Although the central area is exempt from the Blue Badge scheme there are concessions for Blue Badge parking but they differ from other areas.
Distinctive concessions apply for Blue Badge holders in this area.
