Motorhomes and blue badges

[Essgeebee]

I am hoping to get a blue badge shortly due to deteriorating health. Given the usual issues about moho parking in towns and cities, is there much benefit to a blue badge when using the motorhome I wonder.
For example we are taking ours to Oxford and Cirencester later in January.

 

[emjaiuk]

Whilst disabled bays are usually wide enough for a MH, length will probably be a problem. I would be surprised if a blue badge allowed overhang outside marked bays. The main advantage is the ability to park on yellow lines. although rules for this vary with individual local authorities. I believe you can use it to obtain a pitch close to the facilities on club sites. Having said that, we haven't used ours with the MH.

 

[TinaLes]

Hi Essgeebee
TinaL has had a Blue Badge for years now, which we use when using the car in towns etc, however we always felt like we would appear to be taking the mickey using it in our 7.4mtr MH, even outside town.
I know its probably a mindset thing, and if anyone were to view TinaL getting in or out of our MH they wouldn't question that she was disabled.
Its a tough one to be sure especially when leaving the van unoccupied for an hour or so, yet perfectly legal.
LES

 

[GJH]

There is government advice on use of a blue badge, including where and when it can be used, Here.
The larger size of the vehicle means giving extra consideration to avoiding causing an obstruction &c.
The best advice when parking off street is to check with the car park owner/operator (as can often be the case with parking any motorhome).

 

[Two on Tour]

One of our neighbours had a motorhome and a car, and the car was zero VED.
When he got his blue badge he used the free VED on the motorhome as it did not make much sense to get free VED on the car when it was not costing anyway.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Essgeebee]

Our vehicle is a 6m Burstner which slightly overhangs most standard parking bays but I’d like to think that if they are the only option, discretion would apply. Sadly, that can’t be counted on in this day and age. There are council car parking info web pages which list car parks with bays for larger vehicles and/or access for higher vehicles though they’re not in a simple consistent format. It would be helpful if councils cooperated to develop a single uniform parking policy but that’s not likely I suppose.

 

[GJH]

It would be helpful if councils cooperated to develop a single uniform parking policy but that’s not likely I suppose.

Consistency of information provision is something I tried to promote when running the parking web site.
Unfortunately, the reality of local authority financing is that it is difficult enough to find resources to keep their own web sites up to date, far less find the resources to agree a consistent information standard.
What will never happen is for local authorities to agree a common approach to something like motorhome parking. There are too many variables and differences in demand between different authorities, and all aim to create the policy which suits their own area.

 

[Red Sonja]

I have a blue badge but never use it with the motorhome only the car.

 

[Stewart J]

Wife has a Blue Badge it can give you preferential pitches on sites both here and in Spain, ie near toilet blocks. I am a keen birder and living in Northumberland visit Holy Island regularly, the badge allows me to park in the large car park for coaches and blue badge holders on the main part of the island next to the toilet block and only a short distance into the village.

 

[Stealaway]

I am hoping to get a blue badge shortly due to deteriorating health. Given the usual issues about moho parking in towns and cities, is there much benefit to a blue badge when using the motorhome I wonder.
For example we are taking ours to Oxford and Cirencester later in January.

We use ours all the time and often park on double yellow lines.
We try not to take the 'thingy' but we have never had a ticket.
We have a 6.9 metre motorhome.
You cant use it in France but it much easier to park in France.

We parked in a very awkward invalid spot on a corner in busy town this this year. Just as we were trying to make our mind up about leaving it there, a cop car pulled up and asked us if we had a blue badge, once he saw it he drove off.
We decided this was OK then

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Stewart J]

Since Brexit there is no reciprocal arrangements for using a Blue Badge in EU states. On a Spanish forum they suggested printing off and laminating this form and displaying it alongside the Blue Badge. Worked for us on several occasions on two trips to to Spain last year. I might have a better resolution version on my computer which I will check this evening if anyone is interested. Other members of our group also used t.he same form and had no issues

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I cannot think of a situation where I would need to use my blue badge in the motorhome. However, it always goes with us (mainly for the toad) when we do travel

 

[hja]

I have a blue badge and we do use it with our 6.4m panel van. Disabled bays are often larger and sometimes their positioning means we are within the length of the bay as well. Sometimes we have been able to park in a car park only because of using the disabled bay. Sometimes it means lower or no parking charges.
Also useful for street parking because with the timer it will usually give you three hours parking even on bays which are only for say 30 mins. Read the booklet that will come with your badge very carefully, it is full of useful info about the badge use.

 

[Just smiffy]

I use my blue badge for every vehicle I’m in…. I don’t suddenly become able bodied when I’m in a motorhome…..

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I have a blue badge and we do use it with our 6.4m panel van. Disabled bays are often larger and sometimes their positioning means we are within the length of the bay as well. Sometimes we have been able to park in a car park only because of using the disabled bay. Sometimes it means lower or no parking charges.
Also useful for street parking because with the timer it will usually give you three hours parking even on bays which are only for say 30 mins. Read the booklet that will come with your badge very carefully, it is full of useful info about the badge use.

My motorhome will definitely not fit is a disabled space, but I take your point. It has been very useful, especially the times when my legs don't work very well

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[fat haggis]

I use mine on all the cars I have had. Motorhome is good (25% discount on calmac ferry’s ) and when I was on my Porsche phase I used it all the time. I got some funny looks when parking a nice 911 in the disabled bays

 

[Just smiffy]

I use mine on all the cars I have had. Motorhome is good (25% discount on calmac ferry’s ) and when I was on my Porsche phase I used it all the time. I got some funny looks when parking a nine 911 in the disabled bays

Can you imagine the abuse I used to get when I parked in disabled bays in a JPS Capri with windows open disco music blaring and Ray-Bans on in my twenties way back in the early eighties…..

 

[Riverbankannie]

I am hoping to get a blue badge shortly due to deteriorating health. Given the usual issues about moho parking in towns and cities, is there much benefit to a blue badge when using the motorhome I wonder.
For example we are taking ours to Oxford and Cirencester later in January.

For Oxford, parking is difficult, blue badge or not. Where are you hoping to visit/see and are you staying overnight on a site?
If you are going to a particular place such as John Radcliffe Hospital (outside the centre) then yes, use the Blue Badge. However if you are going into the centre of town it is much better to use the Park-and Ride bus system if you are able to access it.
The CC and C campsite is adjacent to one of the P&Rs.

 

[Essgeebee]

For Oxford, parking is difficult, blue badge or not. Where are you hoping to visit/see and are you staying overnight on a site?
If you are going to a particular place such as John Radcliffe Hospital (outside the centre) then yes, use the Blue Badge. However if you are going into the centre of town it is much better to use the Park-and Ride bus system if you are able to access it.
The CC and C campsite is adjacent to one of the P&Rs.

Thanks. We were thinking of the CCC site. Does the P&R take dogs, do you know?

 

[Riverbankannie]

Thanks. We were thinking of the CCC site. Does the P&R take dogs, do you know?

Yes they do. Here is an extract from their conditions of carriage, you would not be on a coach but a bus so the bit under other dogs applies unless yours is an assistance dog.

Animals

We welcome and encourage assistance dogs on our buses and coaches and they are carried and welcome aboard at all times. We would ask you, though, to ensure you comply with any reasonable instruction given by the bus driver or the conductor whilst you and your dog are on board.

A maximum of two dogs at any time are normally allowed on any of our buses but this will be subject to the discretion of the driver. Similarly, if you wish to travel with two or more dogs, you will need permission from the driver.

Other dogs (or a small animal) are welcome at the discretion of our drivers and, if they are permitted on board, they must be well behaved and of no danger or nuisance to other customers or our employees. The only dogs that are permitted on our coaches are assistance dogs. Dogs can be dangerous so, where appropriate, they must travel in accordance with the Dangerous Dogs Act.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Wino]

One of our neighbours had a motorhome and a car, and the car was zero VED.
When he got his blue badge he used the free VED on the motorhome as it did not make much sense to get free VED on the car when it was not costing anyway.

I think that's taking the mickey. Presumably the free VED is to reduce the cost of motoring for disabled people as they need a vehicle to get around. I suppose if you did a lot more miles in the motorhome you could argue it's the primary means of transport but I'd have thought it unlikely.

 

[Just smiffy]

I think that's taking the mickey. Presumably the free VED is to reduce the cost of motoring for disabled people as they need a vehicle to get around. I suppose if you did a lot more miles in the motorhome you could argue it's the primary means of transport but I'd have thought it unlikely.

To get “free” VED you have to get the mobility component of pip/dla it’s nothing to do with the blue badge and you can only have the fee tax on one vehicle at a time regardless of how many you own….

 

[Two on Tour]

I think that's taking the mickey. Presumably the free VED is to reduce the cost of motoring for disabled people as they need a vehicle to get around. I suppose if you did a lot more miles in the motorhome you could argue it's the primary means of transport but I'd have thought it unlikely.

Of course, you are entitled to an opinion but why not. More than a bit stupid to spend money for no logical reason.
Nowhere have I seen that the free VED has to be used only on your primary means of transport, but I'm happy to be correct by you.

 

[Just smiffy]

Of course, you are entitled to an opinion but why not. More than a bit stupid to spend money for no logical reason.
Nowhere have I seen that the free VED has to be used only on your primary means of transport, but I'm happy to be correct by you.

Just of the gov site…

 

[Two on Tour]

Just of the gov site…

View attachment 703347

Yup as I said, nowhere have I seen that the free VED has to be used only on your primary means of transport as was implied by The Wino.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Just smiffy]

Yup as I said, nowhere have I seen that the free VED has to be used only on your primary means of transport as was implied by The Wino.

It’s on the last line…..

 

[Emmit]

Come to Sunny??? Callington in Cornwall.

There is a 'Disabled' bay in the main street right outside the Chemist.

You could park the longest Tag Axle Burstner van in the bay without
being anywhere near the limits of the bay.

However, you would have to park on top of the lazy B*&%$£*s who are
perfectly fit and able to walk from the nearby FREE!!!! car park but choose not to do so.

 

[Two on Tour]

It’s on the last line…..

Does not say that it has to be on your primary means of transport does it, so why not a motorhome.
His other vehicle was zero rated, not on an exemption.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I use my blue badge for every vehicle I’m in…. I don’t suddenly become able bodied when I’m in a motorhome…..

As it should be.
I don’t see what the issue is what vehicle any one might be in either driving or passenger.

If a blue badge has been awarded what’s the issue.

 

[AndyPK]

Essgeebee ,
If you’re coming to Ciren, I recommend that you use The Beeches car park in Beeches Road, as it has many bays large enough to cope with ‘overhangs’ and is also the cheapest (if you have to pay - free on Sundays ) in the town. It’s about a 10 minute walk to the Market Place (town centre) and is also the easiest car park to enter/exit in a larger vehicle…..