A TOTAL of 204 Blue Badges were checked in the local area as the council took part in a national day of action targeting Blue Badge misuse.

Seventy-seven councils from across the UK, including Bath and North East Somerset Council, took part with the aim of protecting disabled motorists and parking bays by removing as many misused Blue Badges as possible.

Blue Badges make it easier and safer for people with mobility issues to stay active and go about everyday activities like shopping, attending social events and medical appointments.

They allow drivers and passengers to park in designated bays closer to their destination, helping them access goods and services which can be vital for those with mobility limitations.

Examples of Blue Badge misuse include: Using a badge when the badge holder is not in the vehicle; Using a badge that belongs to a deceased person; Using an out of date/expired badge.

There are currently almost 10,000 registered Blue Badge holders in Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s civil enforcement officers carried out 204 vehicle checks with additional support from its partner, OneWest, including vehicles entering through the security bollards at Cheap Street.

Checks found the vast majority of Blue Badges were being used correctly but several instances of misuse were identified, with three badges being seized on the day.

Councillor Joel Hirst, cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “Blue Badges are an immense help to their holders, allowing them to go about daily life whilst minimising the impact of their disability.”

“Almost all of the Blue Badges we checked were being used lawfully, which is really great to see.”

This is the fourth time the national campaign has taken place, with 142 councils involved in last year’s day of action where 10,040 Blue Badges were inspected, 182 of which were seized.