New data released by mobility specialists CareCo reveals the scale of illegal parking in disabled bays, with Swansea responsible for 7.1% of all UK misuse cases in 2024. That places the city sixth nationally, ahead of major urban areas including Westminster, Bristol and Glasgow.
Only a handful of the UK’s largest cities — including Birmingham, Bournemouth, London and Cardiff — recorded higher levels of misuse.
The figures come from freedom of information responses submitted to more than 400 councils, and highlight how often disabled parking bays are being used illegally — leaving Blue Badge holders, elderly residents and people with limited mobility struggling to access essential services.
Across the UK, more than 45,000 penalty charge notices were issued last year for vehicles parked in accessible bays without the required permit — an average of 123 incidents every day.
With fines ranging from £70 to £130, the data suggests drivers misusing disabled bays paid more than £3.16 million in penalties in 2024.
William Harrison, founder of CareCo, said:
Accessible parking bays are a vital resource. When they are unavailable, those who need them most can be prevented from attending appointments, visiting shops, or living with their own vital independence. This high demand is under increased pressure from both misuse and lack of availability.
Swansea Council was among the authorities that responded to the FOI request, contributing to the national dataset. The figures show Swansea’s rate of misuse is higher than several larger UK cities, raising questions about enforcement, demand and the availability of accessible bays across the city.
In a statement to Swansea Bay News, a spokesperson from Swansea Council said:
“Accessible parking provision is vital for motorists who have limited mobility and rely on being able to park their vehicle near to local amenities.
“We do all we can to ensure these parking spaces are used properly and our parking enforcement team will continue to issue PCNs to motorists that are not permitted to use them.”
CareCo, which says it supports more than 2.8 million Blue Badge holders through its mobility advice and products, says it hopes the findings will spark a wider conversation about accessibility and independence.
