The new look blue badge for disabled people will be free of charge from 1st April this year.
Neath Port Talbot residents are also being reminded that changes are being made to the application process by the Welsh Government which will make the new style badge hard to copy, forge and alter due to an improved design.
Up until now, the blue badges have been issued straight away by staff at the Council’s one stop shops.
But, in future, in line with the new national regulations, the badges will be free and issued by an external supplier approved by the Welsh Government which will now take several days.
Applications can still be made at the one stop shops in person but they will no longer be issued locally. The badges must only be used by the named holder for their benefit alone.
Current blue badge users do not need to renew their old badge until they are due to expire so it will take up to three years for the new badge to be in full circulation across the UK.
Council Leader, Ali Thomas, said, “I welcome the decision to make the blue badge free for individual users.
“There is no reason to suspect that there is any fraudulent production of the blue badge in Neath Port Talbot but, through these changes, the Welsh Government wants to ensure that only genuine applicants receive the badge.
“This will make it easier for disabled people who rely on the blue badge to find a parking space close to the services and facilities they require.”
