Warwickshire disabled blue badge price rises from 2012

[dutchman]

The cost of a disabled parking badge in Warwickshire will be increasing from £2 to £10.



The rise in January will be the first in the area since 1986, according to Warwickshire County Council.

The Conservative run authority said it handles 11,000 applications a year and there are around 30,000 badge holders in the county.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe said: "We have managed to keep the cost of a blue badge affordable for all applicants."

The council said the price hike is due to increased administration costs following changes at the Department of Transport.

From January the government will hold a national database to monitor the system and there will be more rigorous criteria for applying for a blue badge.

Ms Seccombe said: "It is important to remember that there are many positive aspects to the new scheme - it will help crack down on widespread fraud and people will be able to apply online for the first time."

The Disabled Parking Badge scheme was established in 1971 and a standard badge is valid for three years.