Eltham Blue Badge and Accessible Parking: How to Apply and Where Badge Holders Can Park

This guide covers the Blue Badge scheme as the Royal Borough of Greenwich and GOV.UK describe it. Eligibility follows national rules, so use the links below to check your own situation.

How do I apply for a Blue Badge?

The council's apply page says you must apply online on GOV.UK. It says:

• the badge costs £10 and is valid for up to three years
• you can apply for yourself, someone else or an organisation
• you can apply for a child from age three, and for a child under three only if they must always travel with bulky medical equipment
• if you cannot apply online, someone else can apply for you, or you can book an appointment at one of the council's outreach sessions, held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ, between 10am and 4pm, by calling 020 8921 2387 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

On what happens next, the council says the process can take up to 12 weeks, that it will not confirm receipt of your application, and that it may invite you to a mobility assessment at the Woolwich Centre with an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.

Who is eligible?

The council's who can apply page says you are eligible if you:

• get the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• get Personal Independence Payment with 8 points or more for moving around
• get the War Pensions Mobility Supplement, a Guaranteed Income Payment or a lump sum from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• are blind or partially sighted
• have a terminal illness

You may also be eligible with a severe disability in both arms that makes parking meters difficult or impossible, substantial and long-term difficulty walking, or a hidden disability, and you will need to provide proof.

What documents do I need?

The council's what you need page lists a head-and-shoulders digital photo with no filters, proof of name and age, proof of address, copies of any benefit statements and proof of your disability or medical condition, such as diagnosis letters or a GP letter.

How do I renew?

The council says the renewal process is the same as applying, that you pay £10 every time, and that you get an email reminder from the Department for Transport three months before expiry only if you gave an email address. You must not use a badge after its expiry date or you could get a Penalty Charge Notice, and you must send the old badge back, according to its renewal page.

Where can badge holders park?

The council's where you can park page says that in Royal Greenwich you can park for free, with the badge clearly displayed, in:

• disabled bays
• pay and display bays
• public car parks the council manages, though you should check signs if you are not sure
• shared use bays

You can also park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, as long as your vehicle does not cause an obstruction. You must not park in bays reserved for specific users, including permit-holder only bays, loading bays, taxi bays and doctors' bays, and the council says to always check the signs.

In Eltham, the council's listing for Orangery Lane car park, which has three disabled bays, and for Eltham Centre car park, which has five, both say motorcycles and Blue Badge holders park free. Sainsbury's car park on Philpot Path is listed by the council but its charges are shown in the car park. For the rest of the town's parking see our parking guide and our town centre guide.

What are the penalties for misuse?

The council says you could be fined up to £1,000 for using a Blue Badge you are not eligible for.