Disabled drivers are facing parking misery in a Shropshire town because some motorists are hogging spaces, a campaigner has claimed.
Calls are now being made for time restrictions to be placed on the bays in Ludlow town centre.
Joyce Ellis, co-ordinator of the community car service for the elderly and disabled in Ludlow, said she is finding it difficult to access the disabled bays in the town because some cars are permanently parked in them.
She said: “People are hogging the disabled bays all day and not giving any other disabled people the chance to get anywhere near the shops.
“It is the same on Corve Street and the Market Place. They are finding it is really difficult to find anywhere to park so they can get to the shops.”
She said she has approached Ludlow Tory MP Philip Dunne and town councillor Vivienne Parry.
Mr Dunne said: “I have written to the council to ask the question about whether they have the power to impose time restrictions on disabled parking bays.”
Pressure
Ludlow Town Councillor Vivienne Parry said: “Unlike much of the UK, Shropshire allows residents with blue badges to park for an unlimited length of time in disabled parking bays.
“This works fine in areas were there is not a great pressure on parking but in somewhere like Ludlow town centre it causes a lot of problems.”
She is also writing to Shropshire Council. “We are just looking to give all disabled drivers an equal chance to use the town’s facilities,” added Councillor Parry.
Officials at Shropshire Council today confirmed that there are 21 disabled bays in the town centre (32 in both the red and blue parking areas including the 21 in the town centre).
All on-street parking spaces are free to disabled badge holders and the time restrictions do not apply.
Hugh Dannatt, Shropshire Council’s group manager for highways and traffic engineering, said: “We are aware that vehicles can park all day in the disabled bays but we are unable to take any action with regards to this.
“The Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (England) Regulations 2000 prohibits the council from making a traffic regulation order that restricts the length of time a blue badge holder may wait in an on street parking space including disabled bays.”
By Hannah Costigan
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24 Comments
I agree it’s wrong, but are these the same disabled drivers that abandon their cars anywhere they feel including the parent and child spaces, then happily trot off. There should be stricter rules on ‘blue badges’ I know of someone who has one because they are overweight.
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People shouldnt park in disabled spots , but we should have none of this mother and baby parking spaces they are not disabled but parents. And before anyone says it i have to children and never use them it is just for the idle . FREE them up for the ones that realy need them such as the disabled.
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I think Andrew is missing the point when he talks about Parent and Child spaces. The location of these spaces is pretty irrelevant, it is the fact that they are wider spaces to allow doors to be fully opened when putting children in and taking them out of the car that is important.
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Andrew, you completely miss the point. Mother and Baby spaces are there so parents can easily get their baby seats in and out of the car. When the children are old enough to walk then you need the space so the child can easily be fastened into their car seat, it’s very difficult to do this in a normal space. It is impossible to get the baby seats in and out of a car without the extra space, as the car door needs to be fully open. And it has nothing to do with where they are located, i asked Tesco to put their P&B spaces away from the entrance to put of lazy parkers.
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I think I really need to comment on “Parent and Child” spaces.
Good Grief !!!
What are we coming to, when perfectly able parents need “wider spaces” to open car doors to get kids in and out??.
(If the parent(s) are disabled – then by all means use a disabled space – but come on …. for perfectly healthy mums and dads … It really beggars belief!!
I’m a grandparent with two of my own children, and three grandchildren. We never needed any special treatment /provision for our kids – and still don’t
These wider spaces take up far too much room, and simply waste valuable parking space that could be used by others.
My Mum, who brought up three children in London during the War years must be turning in her grave.
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Askerdic, you must have a really small car if you can open you door fully to get your child seat in and out. Id love you to explain how you do it when the car next to you is parked close to the line ?
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Several people are missing the point on Parent and Child spaces.
They are wider spaces which not only allow doors to be opened fully, but also allow a pram/pushchair to be placed alongside the vehicle. If they didn’t exist then the buggy (containing a vulnerable child) would have to remain in the roadway behind the car, in the path of other vehicles. I wouldn’t like to be the owner of the car park faced with a lawsuit resulting from an accident of that nature.
People may have done perfectly well without them “back in the good old days”, but there were fewer cars and car parks weren’t as intense and frenetic as they are now – and I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m sure regular parking spaces are narrower than they used to be.
Anyway, when you have the likes of Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s all competing for the same family spend, they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they attract family shoppers to their premises. Much as I dislike supermarkets in general, given the choice between one that has these spaces and one that doesn’t, I value child safety so I know who gets my money.
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I haven’t got any children at home anymore, but my wife and I have bought a child seat which is fitted permanently in the rear of our car so that we can park in the parent and baby spots. Saves a lot of walking!!!
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oh confused …. (#6) !!
IF ONLY life were made simple for every little complicated/difficult thing we have to do ???
What IS the matter with people these days that feel they HAVE to be spoon fed for every little one of lifes’ “difficulties” ?
IS it THAT difficult to get a child seat out of a car? – Even in a restricted space?
I never have a problem with my granchildren!!!
(The youngest is 7 months)
If it’s THAT difficult as you are trying to say – AND you Feel you must drive everywhere with your kids, then buy a Vehicle with rear storage / access !!!! (Estate / people carrier etc)
Simples! ( apologies to comparethemeekats.com )
And just becuase things were different years ago, less cars, etc etc, of course meant there were a considerable number of other difficulties instead !!!
Look … Nothing’s really changed, Life has ALWAYS been difficult – years ago before the car – how did poeple manage then??
My Mum walked a 3 mile round trip to the shops almost every other day – with 3 kids – (me included) and I’ll wager we were FAR better off for it.
I just think we are pandering (maybe also for complying with daft Health & Safety rules) to some “needs” that really isn’t neccessary.
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Askedic, thanks very much for the rant, I do apologise for being simple, however, if you could answer my question, as a simpleton Id be gratefull.
How do I open my car door when the car next to me has parked close to the line ?
Nothing to do with being spoon fed, Nothing to do with your mother walking 3 miles, and nothing to do with my driving habits, which you seem to know alot about, not sure how, maybe your being ignorant and asuming things, yet again! Im sure you will go into another rant, explaing how good you are.. but somewhere along the line if you could answer the question i would no longer be a simpleton !
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askeric – I’ve had enough of your good ole days rants, kindly pretend it was the good ole days and refrain from using the internet and chats, if you have to comment then stick to snailmail I’m sure this way the rest of us can appreciate seeing less of your inane comments – comments that you make using a modern day tool of comfort and convenience. Then you can pretend it was the good ole days without any of the modern comforts we all appreciate in one way or another – you will be happy, we will be happy – win, win!
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Confused, (#10) and tc (#11).
I’m sick and tired of the abusive replies that I occasionally get on these columns.
OK – So “You” may think that life is so wonderful in these “modern times” – and I’m stuck in the Middle ages.
Well – that’s your opinion and you are welcome to it.
What is not welcome to me is the tone of your replies.
By all means say you don’t agree, but less of the aggressive tone please.
Although I run a business that firmly deals wtih upto date 21st century technology (internet services) – I don’t happen to believe that everything is wonderful and marvellous in out 21st Century way of life.
Neither does it mean that I believe in the “good ole days” absloutely either!
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Askeric (#12), look at the SHOUTING (aggressive tone) YOU are using in #9 – especially as it has nothing to do with the main article above – YOU just so invite it!
Well done #10 and #11.
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The only reason for wider Mother & Brat spaces is the fat cars being produced these days.
Bigger, heavier, wider, longer.
Stuffed with gadgets not needed (cupholders? auto-wipers? auto-lights? FFS), and safety features not needed provided that Little Johnny has learned the Green Cross Code, and the driver can SEE what is going on around him / her.
Modern powerplants are fantastic things. But if cars were lighter, your 45mpg could be 65mpg (real world, not the laboratory tested manufacturers claims).
BTW, eric, I completely agree with your (#12) comment. You are one of the more cogent commenters on these pages, and to be continually baited by simple keyboard warriors whose grasp of both punctuation and spelling would appear rudimentary at best must be galling. I’m comfortable that the likes of tc / Confused / Peach restrict themselves to simple commentary pages, and venture not into the world of national discussion fora, as the words “of” “their” “out” & “depth” spring to mind :-)
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Karen K
Thank you for your reply in #13.
1. I’m well aware that Parent and Child spaces is not the main subject.
2. I didn’t bring up the subject of Parent and child spaces, please read posts 1,2,3 and 4. I’m merely following up on a logical extension of the argument surrounding disabled spaces, upon which parent and child spaces has a bearing on in my opinion.
3. The post by Confused in #6 was aimed directly at me. I responded to Confused in #9, and the main thrust of that post was aimed at a general observation of mine that people do seem to expect special treatment these days .
I don’t then expect (having replied to a specific person, to get abusive replies from others.
4. If parent and child spaces didn’t take up so much room, then there would be more space for genuinely needy persons (i.e disabled).
5. I use capitals to enhance a point. That is all. I see nothing wrong with that in the context of forum etiquette
… However …. It is, as i’m sure you know as well as I do that the use of capitals is not acceptable when used continously, which some people have done on these forums
6. Thankyou for your observation that I “so “invite it” … whatever “it” is?
If I take “it” to mean that I should suffer abusve replies then I don’t aggree with you.
If however… you really mean that, where people happen to disagree with me, and then go on to post civil and reasoned replies. then I would agree with you …
So which one is it Karen K?
7. Finally – to save your “hearing” please note the only capitals used in this post are where they are required grammatically.
Finally,
Thanks very much for your comments Winja (#14).
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askeric, go to Sainsburys, there are to many disabled parking spaces, they are never fully used. I need to open my car door fully to get the child seat in and out of the car. It’s not about being lazy or wanting to park close to the doors, it’s a large object, which only just fits in the car with the door fully open. The car seat is part of my buggy, so it is essential that i am able to get it in and out of the car. Your comments are rude and unhelpful. If you have an useful comments or ideas on how i’m going to get my baby seat out of the car without fully opening the door, then do let me know.
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… well you have invited it this time Askeric, with such a nice reply. WELL DONE!
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any reduction in parking spaces disabled or otherwise is surely a good thing ?? consider the enviroment the parking charges !use the greener more cost effective bus service. If you can get in a car you can get in a bus. or shop on line if your that house bound.
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Karen K (#17) – I’m really not quite sure what the point of your reply is – But I’ll take it as complimentary, although you still don’t define what “it” is
Eleaner (18).
I’m fully aware of the diffiuclties of getting large objects such as a child seat out of a car. It’s Difficult !! – and that was my point all along – a lot of things in life are difficult. Nothing new about that
Of course a wider space enabling doors to opened fully (also without hitting or damaging the vehicle next to you) is a nice to have – and I’m sure supermarkets in particular provide them for marketing reasons rather than making it easier for “everyone”.
And as for “everyone”
Actually – how many peeple parking at any one time in a typical supermarket carpark have kids + baby seats etc – should we provide spaces for all of them? – As I’ll wager there are far more parents overall “needing” wider spaces than actually provided! – And if we did provide for all of these – there would almost certainly be at least half the parking spaces lost!
The fact is Parent and Child spaces take up a lot of space that really perhaps ought to be given to those that really need it – that is – the genuinely disabled.
You say the disable spaces in Sainsbury’s aren’t used fully -… is that a conclusion drawn from many observations over different times etc? – I find that rather difficult to believe that disabled spaces aren’t used effectively
“Thankyou” also for saying you think my comments are rude – well I’m sorry I can’t agree with you there – they may well be forthright (they aren’t aimed at anyone personally !!)and are obviously comments you don’t agree with, but there you are: you have your opinion, I have mine.
My opinion is that “some” (some = general – not about anyone in particualar!!) people expect too much these days. The sheer convenience of luxurious transport in the form of a car for all your family needs isn’t enough it seems.
Regards
Askeric dotcom
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Part of the problem is that FAR too many blue badges are being handed out to people who are perfectly capable of walking around with no problem. People are qualifying for having mild arthritis in their hands nad simply for being over seventy… Since when did that cause walking difficulties? I am in a wheelchair, I am twenty years old and I want to be able to go out having as much independance as possible. I can’t because I can NEVER find anywhere to park! Disabled bays are ALWAYS full. It is beyond a joke.
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Sorry my above comment has a few spelling mistakes I believe. One was supposed to say ‘and’ not ‘nad’. Apologies. ;)
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Clare (#20).
Can I just say that someone in Clare’s position, ie in a wheelchair, is a prime example of someoone who really DOES NEED extra parking space!!
I really do feel for the likes of Clare who have no option – they HAVE to live with the restrictions forced upon them.
“Fortunate and otherwise able” people like you and me dont have to.
(apologies to Karen K regarding use of capitals)
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askeric, i need the space, with out it i can’t park. What don’t you understand about it. The seat isn’t difficult to get in and out, you can’t do it unless the door is fully open. Do you expect me to get my child out, leave her alone while i park the car? And as for how i know the spaces are always empty, i go everyday. Place the disabled and P&B spaces the far side of the carpark and they won’t get taken by the lazy.
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Hi Eleanor.
Look –
I know it’s difficult, and I sympathise with you. My Daughter (who has a 7month baby has said much the same to me as you have if it helps!
And – if you are on your own – and you have to open the car door fully – then yes – you do have a problem – I do understand all this !!
But …..
The fact is….. you have a choice – you are able physically to do something about it.
The likes of Clare (#20) don’t have an option – and just let us remind oursselves that this thread is really about disabled spaces –
“Possible” additional space for which is effectively “taken” by Parent and child spaces.
Maybe a solution is to combine Parent and child spaces with disabled spaces. If the disabled spaces aren’t being used as you say – then that would be an ideal solution? –
But I think you (and I)might find some flak from the disabled sector!!
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