The Companion Badge
What is the Companion Badge?
The Companion Badge is a type of parking permit for disabled people.
It is designed to provide eligible residents with improved protection against people who steal Blue Badges displayed in vehicles. By substituting your Blue Badge for a vehicle specific Companion Badge, your valuable Blue Badges no longer have to be left in parked vehicles.
The Council operates its own free 'Companion Badge' scheme for Hackney Blue Badge holders who live and park in Hackney.
For Blue Badge holders who live in any of Hackney's Controlled Parking Zones, the Companion Badge will also allow you to park in Residential Bays in the holder's home zone.
A Companion Badge is only valid for the vehicle it is displayed in, making it of no use to thieves as they are not able to use it in another vehicle or sell it. The scheme is simple and easy to join
How do I apply for a Companion Badge?
- If you are an existing Blue Badge holder and would like a Companion Badge, you can apply for one by calling Parking Services on 0208 356 8877 or emailing info@hackney.gov.uk.
- If you are applying for a new Blue Badge (or renewing one) you can apply for a Companion Badge at the same time. Please contact the Mobility Team by calling 0208 356 6825 or emailing info@hackney.gov.uk.
Where can I park with a Companion Badge?
1) You can park in your home zone as if you had a resident's permit.
You don't need to display the 'clock'. Look for signs that read 'permit holders only' or 'resident permit holders only' - including where those bays are combined with Pay and Display bays (sometimes called 'shared use' bays).
2) If you display the 'clock' with the Companion Badge it works in the same way as the Blue Badge. You must also use your 'clock' to show the time of your arrival if you park in a bay where there is a time limit that applies to blue badge holders.
3) You can park in disabled people's bays in your home zone and only need to display your 'clock' if the parking sign shows there is a time limit for people parking there. If you park in disabled bays outside your home zone you need to display your clock even if the bay has no time limit.
Where can I park and when should I display the clock?
Information about where you can park in Hackney with your Blue Badge and Companion Badge and when to display the clock is shown in the following table.
| Blue Badge | Companion Badge | |
| On Street Pay and Display Bays | Yes (no clock needed) -no time limit. | Yes with clock -no time limit. |
| Permit Holder Only Bays | No | Only in home CPZ (no clock needed) -no time limit. |
|
Shared Use Bays (combined Pay and Display and Permit Holder Bays). |
Yes (no clock needed) -no time limit. | Yes (clock needed outside of home CPZ) -no time limit |
| Disabled Bays | Yes (no clock needed unless the sign shows a time limit) | Yes (clock needed outside home CPZ and if the sign shows a time limit) |
| Resident Permit Holder Only Bays (home CPZ only) | No | Yes (no clock needed) -no time limit. |
| Single and Double Yellow Lines (where allowed*) | Yes with clock (maximum three hours) | Yes with clock (maximum three hours) |
| Business Bays, Doctors Bays, Red Routes, Suspended Bays | No | No |
| Housing Estates. | Please contact estates directly to find out where you can park. | Please contact estates directly to find out where you can park. |
* You can park on yellow lines unless there is a ban on loading and unloading or you are causing an obstruction. You can stay for up to three hours and once you've finished you can't return to the same road for an hour.
More information
Information and resources
For more information about our parking services for disabled people, you can:
- Find out about badge misuse and how to use your badge properly
Contacting us
If you have any queries about disabled parking, you can get in touch with us using the details below:
- For Companion Badge queries, please call Parking Services on 020 8356 8877 or email info@hackney.gov.uk.
- For Blue Badge queries, please call The Mobility Team on 020 8356 6825 or email info@hackney.gov.uk.
Page updated: 7 Jun 2011
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