uk.people.disability

"(not quite so) Fat Sam" wrote in
message news:fqjjju$76v$1@...
> Serena Blanchflower wrote:
>> * (not quite so) Fat Sam wrote, On 04/03/2008 12:25:
>>> SuperDaz wrote:
>>>> "(not quite so) Fat Sam" wrote
>>>> in message news:fqj7ku$db$1@...
>>>>> John Nice wrote:
>>>>>> "(not quite so) Fat Sam" wrote
>>>>>> in message news:fqhreb$l3h$1@...
>>>>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>>>>> "(not quite so) Fat Sam"
>>>>>>>> wrote in message news:fqhq0t$fv7$1@...
>>>>>>>>> Okay, We're going to London for a day out on Wednesday. See the
>>>>>>>>> sights, that sort of thing.
>>>>>>>>> I always prefer to plan ahead, so prior knowledge of parking
>>>>>>>>> would be usefull.
>>>>>>>>> Can anyone suggest good places to park around the Tower Bridge
>>>>>>>>> area and around the London Eye area?
>>>>>>>>> Preferably places that are either free or affordable for blue
>>>>>>>>> badge holders?
>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> read your blue badge handbook, you cannot use your blue badge in
>>>>>>>> some parts of london, you must have a london one, you may be
>>>>>>>> able to find out where on line
>>>>>>> Oh bugger. I didn't realise that.
>>>>>>> I don't even know where the blue badge handbook is. I wonder if
>>>>>>> the info is available online. I'm off to do a google.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm fairly sure you'll find that the London not-blue badges are
>>>>>> only required north of the River, so if you're coming from the
>>>>>> south and stay south you'll be OK.
>>>>> Hmmm, we'll be coming in from the north, and a lot of the places
>>>>> we're interested in are to the north. Having said that, I have
>>>>> healthy legs and my wife has her wheels, so parking to the south
>>>>> and trundling over the bridges souldn't be a problem.
>>>>> This is handy advice...Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Don't forget the Congestion Charge, either.
>>>>>> You can register for exemption of the CC but it's a slightly
>>>>>> lengthy process.
>>>>> Yeah, I checked that last night, and was disappointed to learn I'd
>>>>> left it too late.
>>>>> You have to fill in a form and send it off, then wait for a letter
>>>>> of exemption to come back from the London Transport guys.
>>>>> Looks like I'll be shelling out £8 tomorrow morning.
>>>>>
>>>> If you dont pay road tax..ie. your car is a motorbility one then you
>>>> dont pay the CC...ya dont have to do anything
>>>
>>> That's not what TFL's website says here.
>>> /roadusers/congestioncharging/
>>>
>>>
>>
>> It is, in the small print, if you read page 7 of the Blue Badge
>> leaflet linked from that page (or at
>> ),
>> where it says:
>>
>> Vehicle exemption
>> Certain categories of vehicles, including disabled passenger
>> carrying vehicles and vehicles used by disabled persons that are
>> exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), are automatically
>> exempt from Congestion Charging and do not need to be registered
>> with TfL. This automatic exemption only applies when the Driver
>> and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has confirmed to you that
>> they have recorded the vehicle as being exempt from road tax.
>>
>>
>> If you haven't already found details of which areas of London accept
>> the Blue Badge, there's some useful stuff at
>> ,
>> or , if the longer version has split. You
>> should also be able to get information on places where you *can* use
>> your badge from the map at .
>
> This is all great news.
> You all prompted me to ring up TFL. They asked for my reg number and
> instantly informed me that I'm automatically exempt from the CC, and need
> take no action.
> Thanks for the pointers guys. If you hadn't told me, I would have gone and
> paid the £8 and been none the wiser.
Great stuff...so why did I pay £ to be exempt from the charge (no
obvious remarks please)