To apply for a voluntary organisation parking permit, you need to register for a business parking permit account or, if you already have one, login to your business parking permit account. 

When you start the online application you will be prompted to either register or login. Once you are registered / logged in, you can proceed to the 'permit applications' section of the account to apply for your healthcare parking permit.

To register for an account / apply online you will need an email address. Unfortunately, the parking permit system does not accept NTL world email addresses. 

The online parking permit system is easy to use, but if you need help to complete the online forms and don't have family or friends who can help you, please contact us about a digital assistance appointment.

To apply online for a voluntary organisation parking permit, you will need to provide:

Proof of funding

Please upload a document to prove that your voluntary organisation is funded by Bedford Borough Council. 

Proof of employment

Please upload one of the following:

• contract of Employment
• payslip (must be less than three months old)

The document you submit should show a link between the applicant and organisation.

Proof of vehicle ownership

Please upload one of the following:

• V5C - showing the applicant as the registered keeper.
• Insurance Certificate – a valid certificate showing the vehicle registration number, and the applicant as policy holder or named driver.
• Hire Agreement - showing the vehicle registration number, applicant name, start and end date of hire agreement and the address where the vehicle will be kept.
• Letter from your organisation stating that the vehicle is registered to you and that the employee has sole use of the vehicle.

An email address

To apply online you will need an email address. 

If you already have another parking permit account with us, you will need to use a different email address for your resident account. 

Unfortunately, the parking permit system does not accept NTL world email addresses. 

Uploading documents

You can upload documents when making your application online. We accept photos or scans of documents, providing the relevant information is clear.

Name on your documents

Please make sure the name on the documents you provide is the same as the name in your application – if they don’t match we won’t be able to approve your application.

Parking permits for voluntary organisations are issued at the discretion of Bedford Borough Council.

They are issued when they will be beneficial to the operational needs of the voluntary organisation when located / operating within Bedford's Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

The permit allows the vehicle to park for up to 2 hours within a marked pay-and-display or permit-holder bay within the Controlled Parking Zone. It is not permitted to return the vehicle to the same street within one hour of leaving the bay.

The voluntary organisation must receive funding from Bedford Borough Council to be eligible to apply, and a document to prove the finding must be supplied at the time of application. 

Each voluntary organisation is entitled to only one permit. 

The permit must not be used by employees for parking at or near their place of work.

The permit must be cancelled if:

• The employee to which the permit was issued leaves the organisation
• The vehicle for which the permit was issued changes ownership
• The organisation ceases to operate

The permit does not allow the vehicle to park:

• on yellow lines
• on footways
• on verges
• across an access
• in private and Council car parks
• in taxi ranks
• in designated Blue Badge bays
• in loading bays

If you park in these areas, you risk being issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. Currently the charge is up to £70 reduced to 50% if paid within 14 days.

The permit may be revoked if the Council has reason to believe that it is not being used in accordance with the regulations. The Council also reserves the right to ask for further proof to establish the way in which a permit is being used; this may include checking with another official body.

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