People-friendly streets Blue Badge holders FAQs

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

Blue Badge holders who have access to a single vehicle that is used for their transportation will be eligible. The vehicle could belong to you, or to a carer (who could be a friend or family member). The vehicle will be able to pass through the designated traffic filters, when the Blue Badge holder is in the vehicle, without receiving a penalty charge. This will help disabled people who rely on their vehicles for short local journeys.

Blue Badge holders who live in the neighbourhood will be sent a letter with details of the exemption permit. The permit will be held electronically and nothing will need to be displayed in the vehicle. 

Please note that a Blue Badge by itself does not exempt the holder from the camera-enforced traffic filters - it is the exemption permit which exempts the registered vehicle. 

The registered vehicle will be exempt from the designated cameras when being used by the Blue Badge holder (either as a driver or passenger). It will not be exempt when the Blue Badge holder is not in the vehicle and will still be liable for Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) if driven through a traffic filter.  

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 hold a Free Resident Permit (FRP) or Dedicated Disabled Bay (DDB) and live within a LTN where the policy applies, you will automatically be provided with an exemption permit for the designated traffic filters in your home LTN. If you have been issued a Blue Badge by the London Borough of Islington you will be sent a letter with details of the exemption permit. The permit itself will be held electronically and nothing will need to be displayed in the vehicle.  

For Blue Badge holders who do not have a vehicle registered for a Free Resident Permit (FRP) or Dedicated Disabled Bay (DDB), you will need to complete a short application (see the question ‘How do I apply for my Blue Badge exemption permit?’ in this section).

Exemptions are now live in all seven low traffic neighbourhoods. All new LTNs in Islington will have the exemptions included from the day they become operational. 

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.