3 h. ago Blue Badge fraud skyrockets 1,000% as disabled drivers 'exploited' in sick 'abuse'

Blue Badge fraud and misuse is a huge issue on the rise, with experts warning that the 'harmless' act of borrowing a permit from family can have serious consequences

Events

34 h. ago Full Blue Badge parking eligibility for drivers with 'hidden' disabilities

Blue Badges can be a lifeline for those with hidden disabilities, as they provide access to a range of parking benefits. Here's everything you need to know about how to apply for a Blue Badge.

Politics

53 h. ago Blue Badge driver left fuming after being fined £110 for parking in a disabled bay

Philip Davey was fined after parking in a disabled bay in Billet Lane car park, Hornchurch, during a visit to Queen's Theatre with his mother-in-law, who is seriously ill with cancer

Economics

54 h. ago Woman who used disabled person's Blue Badge for parking gets a shock after court

Isle of Wight woman Paula MacLachlan had to pay more than £1,000 after she unlawfully used a disabled person's Blue Badge when parking in Isle of Wight in September last year

Events

5 d. ago 'My dad abused me when I was 8 – my mum died just hours before I got justice'

Kay Pitt was just nine when she was abused by her sick dad Alan Vinten, now 78. He was jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of eight charges, 50 years after hurting his own daughter

Events

5 d. ago Blue Badge applicants with certain mobility issues told 'you do not qualify'

Minister for the future of roads at the Department for Transport Lilian Greenwood has issued a statement on changing the eligibility criteria of the Blue Badge following queries from MPs

Politics

5 d. ago Blue Badge fraud has 'increased by over 1000 per cent' since 2016 as driver misuse and theft soars

The range of abuse varies from intentional theft, organised fraud, producing and selling counterfeit badges online, and using deceased people's badges.

Politics

5 d. ago Blue Badge fraud has 'increased by over 1000%' since 2016 as driver misuse and theft soars

The range of abuse varies from intentional theft, organised fraud, producing and selling counterfeit badges online, and using deceased people's badges.

Politics

6 d. ago Blue Badge holders can park for free in several European countries – full list

If you're living with a physical disability or health condition that impacts your ability to walk safely, you might be eligible for a Blue Badge – and it works in certain parts of Europe

Politics

7 d. ago Getting a Blue Peter badge can save parents £100s during school holidays

The free badge could save parents a small fortune this summer at more than 200 UK attractions

Economics

8 d. ago Blue Badge update for people on PIP due to move to new disability payment this year

An important letter about the Blue Badge scheme will be issued following the move to Adult Disability Payment.

Politics

8 d. ago Blue Badge holders hit with new parking rules this month – see if you're affected

A number of new spaces will open up in a major UK region impacting Blue Badge holders, offering increased access for those who benefit from better access to their destinations

Events

9 d. ago Blue Badge holders can use their parking permit in these countries while on holiday abroad

Blue Badge users could access parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, extended parking durations, or exemptions from parking fees.

Politics

1 week ago Sick paedophile blindfolded girl and raped her in 'campaign' of abuse

Perry McCarthy's brave victim told a court she remained 'haunted' by his abuse while there was applause in court as the paedophile was handed a lengthy jail term

Events

2 w. ago Full list of Blue Badge criteria as 19 key points decide who is eligible for benefit

Blue Badges are issued by local authorities and can help people with severe disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions, park closer to their destination

Politics

2 w. ago Drivers using 'ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras and bus lane fines

The illegal plates, which reflect camera flashes, prevent detection by speed and bus lane cameras and are also referred to as 3D or 4D plates. Authorities are now ramping up efforts to stop drivers from exploiting this loophole.

Transport

2 w. ago Everyone who can automatically get a disabled parking Blue Badge

People with a Blue Badge can usually park closer to their destination including on double yellow lines or disabled bays

Politics

2 w. ago Full list of people who qualify for disabled Blue Badge parking

Blue Badges allow eligible people to park in disabled car park spaces, generally meaning a shorter walk to their destination

Politics

2 w. ago Is this river alive? Robert Macfarlane on the lives, deaths and rights of our rivers

As pollution levels hit record highs and fresh water becomes ‘the new oil’, is it time to radically reimagine our relationship to the natural world?If you find it difficult to think of a river as alive, try picturing a dying or dead river. This is easier. We know what this looks like. We know how it feels. A dying river is one who does not reach the sea. A dying river’s fish float belly-up in stagnant pools. Swans on the upper Thames near Windsor now wear brown tidemarks on their snowy chest feathers, showing where they have sailed through sewage. I recently saw a Southern Water riverbank sign badged with a bright blue logo that read “Water for Life”. The sign instructed passersby to “avoid contact with the water. If you’ve had contact with the water, please wash your hands before eating.” In parts of this septic isle, fresh water has become first undrinkable, then unswimmable, then untouchable.How did it come to this – and where do we go from here? The crisis is one of imagination ...

Events

3 w. ago I was fined twice by a parking firm despite having a Blue Badge

Music lovers Guy Falkenau, 80, and his wife Lucille, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, received fines when parking at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead.

Politics