Disabled access

It is estimated that there are over nine million disabled people in the UK. Additionally Salisbury has a substantial elderly population (13% of residents are aged over 70), for whom access to their community is essential. Salisbury city centre itself is an attractive venue for people with mobility difficulties, being flat with a network of city centre streets providing easy vehicular access.

Salisbury District Council is working hard to ensure that disabled residents and visitors to the city are able to get around easily and enjoy all the attractions and facilities offered by the city.

Blue (disabled parking) badges

What is the blue badge scheme?

The Blue badge scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The scheme also applies to registered blind people and people with severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.

Who is entitled to a blue badge?

The Department for Transport's guidelines state that you can obtain a badge if:

  • You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • You receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement
  • You use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government Health Department
  • You are registered blind
  • You have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob.

In addition to the above the county council is able to use its discretionary powers and may supply a blue badge if:

  • You have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking
Who can inspect my badge?

Police officers, traffic wardens and civil enforcement officers have the right to inspect Blue Badges. It is an offence to refuse or fail to produce a badge for inspection, without reasonable excuse. This offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000.

How do I apply?

Wiltshire County Council's Social Services Department administers the Disabled Persons' Parking (blue badge) scheme in Wiltshire on behalf of the Department for Transport.

To apply for a Blue Badge or get the answers to more frequently asked questions, visit the Wiltshire County Council website.

Bus access and concessionary fare bus passes

The Salisbury Joint Transportation Team is committed to providing improved bus access facilities for people with mobility problems. The council also runs a concessionary bus fare scheme for people over 60 or with a long term disability. How to apply for a concessionary bus pass.

Bus stop infrastructure works have recently been undertaken to install higher kerbs and dropped kerbs at bus stop boarding points enabling the fleet of low floor buses to stop almost flush with the kerb and enable easier access to the bus stops.

Car parking

Provision is currently made in Salisbury for disabled blue badge holders to park in a number of locations to help them easily access the shops, facilities and attractions that Salisbury city centre has to offer.

Where can I park?

In Salisbury blue badge holders can park:

  • On single yellow lines for up to three hours providing you display the clock showing the time of arrival
  • Double yellow lines for up to three hours, providing you display the clock showing the time of arrival, except:
  • Where you would cause an obstruction
  • Where there is a loading ban.
  • In residents' parking bays (you are exempt from the normal time restrictions)
  • In any council owned pay and display car park. No payment is required but you must observe the time limits and other regulations applying to the car park. This is shown on front of the ticket machine. You must also park within a marked bay.
  • In designated disabled bays within council owned car parks for a maximum period of two hours
  • In designated onstreet disabled parking bays for up to three hours
  • In onstreet pay and display parking bays, free of charge, for an unlimited period
  • In the designated eight marked bays in the Guildhall Square for a maximum of two hours but not elsewhere.

Please note that private car parks may charge blue badge holders for parking.

Where am I not allowed to park?

Blue badge holders must NOT park:

  • n double yellow lines where there is a loading ban in force. (A loading ban is indicated by a single or double stripe on the edge of the pavement as well as the yellow line. A nearby plate will give the times when loading and unloading is prohibited.)
  • In loading bays which are for the use of heavy commercial vehicles (unless you are loading or unloading)
  • In bays reserved for taxis
  • In bus laybys or bus lanes
  • On any yellow lines within a car park
  • Outside a marked parking bay within a car park
  • On any hatched area within a car park
  • In an area reserved for tourist coaches
Which car parks have disabled bays in them?

Designated disabled bays are available in the following car parks:

Car park Number of bays
Brown Street 4 spaces
Central 6 spaces
Culver Street (ground level) 4 spaces
Guildhall Square 8 spaces
Lush House 5 spaces
Maltings (ground level) 7 spaces
Maltings (level 1) 6 spaces
New Canal 4 spaces
New Street (privately owned - payment will be necessary) 28 spaces
Salisbury Playhouse 5 spaces
Shopmobility 21 spaces

For more information on the location of the car parks, please see the section on Salisbury city car parks.

Shopmobility

Shopmobility is a scheme that enables people with temporary or permanent walking difficulties to get about in Salisbury city centre. Members of the scheme can hire vehicles and walking aids that allow them to access the shops and facilities that Salisbury offers. Find out more about Shopmobility

Access Guide

Access Salisbury is a guide designed to make Salisbury more accessible for residents and visitors. Find out more and download a copy of the guide.

Downloads

Contact details:

Telephone:
01722 434326

email:
parkingservices@salisbury.gov.uk...

Postal address:
PO Box 1821
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 1UY