People-friendly streets Blue Badge holders FAQs

Blue Badge holders who live inside a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in Islington can apply for an exemption. This includes properties on the LTN side of the boundary roads. The exemption will only apply for the traffic filters in a single LTN. 

If you are a Blue Badge holder with access to one vehicle that you use to travel, you can get an exemption. The vehicle can be yours or a carer's, such as a friend or family member.

The vehicle will be able to drive through the traffic filters without getting a penalty charge only when the Blue Badge holder is in the vehicle. We send letters to Blue Badge holders who live in the neighbourhood and hold a free resident permit or dedicated disabled bay with details of the exemption permit.

The permit is on our system and you don't need to display anything in your vehicle.

If you don't have a vehicle registered for a free resident permit for Blue Badge holders or a dedicated disabled bay, you have to log in to your parking account. 

1. Sign in to your account
2. Click 'apply for a permit'
3. Choose 'Low Traffic Neighbourhood LTN permit' and follow the steps to add your vehicle proof
4. It will show you have one under 'view my permits' when it says 'active'

If you don't have a parking account: 

1. register for one first
2. click 'contact us' on the left-hand side of the screen under 'my account'
3. choose 'contact Blue Badge Team'
4. tell us you want to add your Blue Badge and include the first six digits of your Blue Badge number 

We know from feedback that many Blue Badge holders have been disproportionately impacted. We understand that for other people who drive in the borough there may be some inconvenience when routes and access change, but every address is still accessible by motor vehicle. The exemption policy is described in more detail in our October 2021 resident impact assessment. 

If you have been issued a Blue Badge by the London Borough of Islington, and hold a free resident permit for Blue Badge holders or a dedicated disabled bay, and live within a LTN where the policy applies, you will get an exemption permit for the traffic filters in your home LTN. You will be sent a letter with details of the exemption permit. The permit is held on our system and you do not have to display anything in your vehicle.

How to apply

If you don't have a vehicle registered for a free resident permit for Blue Badge holders or a dedicated disabled bay, you have to log in to your parking account. 

1. Sign in to your account
2. Click 'apply for a permit'
3. Choose 'Low Traffic Neighbourhood LTN permit' and follow the steps to add your vehicle proof
4. It will show you have one under 'view my permits' when it says 'active'

If you don't have a parking account: 

1. register for one first
2. click 'contact us' on the left-hand side of the screen under 'my account'
3. choose 'contact Blue Badge Team'
4. tell us you want to add your Blue Badge and include the first six digits of your Blue Badge number 

Traffic filters and where exemption permits can be used

All new LTNs in Islington will have the exemptions included from the day they start. 

Once you receive your letter (with details of the exemption permit), it means that the registered vehicle can be used by the Blue Badge holder (as a driver or passenger) and will not receive Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) if driven through designated camera enforced traffic filters in your home LTN. You will not be exempt from the LTN restrictions until you have received this letter advising you an exemption has been granted to your vehicle. The designated traffic filters are shown on the maps included in the property lists found under the 'Useful documents' section of this page and below.

• Amwell
• Canonbury East
• Canonbury West
• Clerkenwell Green
• Highbury
• St Mary's Church
• St Peter's

The exemption permit only applies to the designated traffic filters in your home LTN. Please note that the permit code on your letter will match the permit code on the traffic signs. Your exemption permit does not allow you to drive through traffic filters in other LTNs which do not display this code (or display other codes). The exemption permit is only valid when the Blue Badge holder is in the vehicle (as a driver or passenger). 

If you are an Islington Blue Badge holder and have use of a vehicle which is your main mode of transport, you can request an exemption from your home LTN by completing an application form online. You will need to upload photos or scans of documents as evidence. Depending on the information we already hold, this may include evidence of your; Blue Badge, identity, address, and vehicle registration.

If you would like a paper copy of the application form, please request one by writing to: Public Realm, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP.

There will be no charge for these permits. 

• Live in one of the Islington LTNs where the policy applies; and 
• Have access to a vehicle.  

The exemption policy is designed to help disabled people or people with reduced mobility who need to use a motor vehicle for local trips. We are also developing a case-by-case exemption for people who do not meet the criteria for the standard exemption permit. Applications for this will open in due course.   

Exemption permits will be granted for a single vehicle designated by the Blue Badge holder, if the Blue Badge holder lives within an LTN where the policy applies. The vehicle could belong to you, or to a carer (who could be a friend or family member). For this scheme, the exemption permit needs to be attached to a vehicle rather than to an individual, so the council needs to link the designated vehicle to the Blue Badge holder.

The exemption permit is only valid when the Blue Badge holder is in the vehicle (as a driver or passenger). We are also developing a case-by-case exemption for people who do not meet the criteria for the standard exemption permit. Applications for this will open in due course.   

Please contact us at PFSBlueBadge@islington.gov.uk if you have further questions.