Blue Badge and Accessible Parking in Chichester

Two councils are involved in Blue Badges here: West Sussex County Council issues them, and Chichester District Council runs the car parks and enforces on-street parking. This guide uses their pages and GOV.UK.

Applying or renewing

The county's apply or renew page says the quickest route is online, and that it can take up to 12 weeks to process an application, longer if information is missing; you may be asked to attend an assessment with an expert assessor. Renewals follow the same process as a new application. Before you start have your current badge details and National Insurance number ready, along with a recent passport-size colour photo, proof of address (dated within the last 12 months), proof of identity, recent medical evidence, and your award letter if you apply under an automatic criterion (a DLA or PIP letter must be no more than 12 months old). The county says there is no charge to apply but you are asked for payment details and charged £10 only if the application is approved; GOV.UK's apply page says a badge costs up to £10 in England and usually lasts up to three years. Postal applications are possible if there is no other option. The county's contact details are blue.badges@westsussex.gov.uk and 01243 777653. Its page has a section on non-visible disabilities, which are assessed on need.

What the district council says about parking

Chichester District Council's Blue Badge page says the national concessions apply to on-street parking only, and each authority has its own arrangements in off-street car parks. It says most of its car parks have specially allocated bays; if those are full, any other pay and display bay can be used free of charge provided the vehicle displays a valid badge and the disabled person is driving or a passenger. Badge holders can use any on-street pay and display space, or the allocated spaces beside the pedestrian centre, with no time limit or payment. On a single or double yellow line the maximum stay is three hours with your clock displayed, except where loading or unloading is restricted. GOV.UK's rights and responsibilities guidance says the same national yellow-line rule, adds that you cannot park on yellow lines in off-street car parks, and says car park owners decide whether badge holders park free.

Disabled bays in the city car parks

From the council's car parks page, with disabled bays as listed and all city car parks open 24 hours a day:

• Northgate: 907 spaces, 13 disabled.
• Cattle Market: 836 spaces, 10 disabled, with a 2.3-metre height restriction.
• East Pallant: 165 spaces, nine disabled.
• Little London: 81 spaces, eight disabled.
• Avenue de Chartres: 890 spaces, five disabled, 1.93-metre height restriction.
• New Park Road: 95 spaces, five disabled.
• Market Road: 50 spaces, three disabled; season ticket only Monday to Friday.
• Baffins Lane, Basin Road, South Pallant, St Cyriacs, St John's and Orchard Street (southern part): between one and two disabled bays each.

Florence Road (20 spaces, one disabled) and Freeland Close (one disabled) are listed as free at all times. Check the car parks page before you travel, as bay counts and rules can change, and see the parking guide for charges, MiPermit and permits.

Other places

• Fishbourne Roman Palace has four dedicated spaces for Blue Badge visitors, free car parking and wheelchair loans (booked the day before), according to Sussex Past.
• Westgate Leisure Centre lists accessible parking bays, a lift to all floors and Changing Places registration on its More Leisure page; see the leisure guide.

Misuse and enforcement

The district council's page says it is a criminal offence to use a badge that does not belong to you, an expired badge, or an altered or copied badge. You can report misuse online through the county or on 01243 777653. If a civil enforcement officer retains your badge, contact the county's Blue Badge team, as the district's parking services cannot help.