Blue badges up to £10 in shake-up

People applying for a disabled badge will see the price increase five-fold in an attempt to stamp out rogue use of parking.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said the maximum fee councils can charge for a permit will rise from £2 to £10 and will fund a major crackdown on widespread abuse of the system.

The Liberal Democrat MP claimed the reforms, which were the biggest shake-up of the Blue Badge system for a generation, would mean genuine holders would have improved access to parking spaces and better customer services.

Abuse of the system is costing the UK an estimated £46 million a year and blocks up disabled-only bays.