Been Refused Disabled Parking at Place of Work

jazabelle

pookienoodle wrote: »

what would happen if you parked in one of the available parking bays?
Are there notices up about clamping/fines?
If they do have a ticket system in place is it legally enforcable or just an "invoice"?
you may find there is nothing stopping you using the designated bays.

I don't know, we haven't moved to the building yet, so no idea if they will have a ticketing system, clamps etc.

It may be that each bay is designated to someone, so parking in one would upset someone! I honestly don't know. I don't really want to get into a battle every time I park though!

robredz

"As far as I know the building isn't a public one, in that members of public don't visit it. It's out of town, so it's just their employees and us. But as far as I'm aware they do have disabled bays, for staff use."

Just a thought, if they have no disabled staff using the bays, surely you could use one, or have able bodied council staff become used to parking in them as it is convenient to do so with no one to stop them?

olly300

robredz wrote: »

"As far as I know the building isn't a public one, in that members of public don't visit it. It's out of town, so it's just their employees and us. But as far as I'm aware they do have disabled bays, for staff use."

Just a thought, if they have no disabled staff using the bays, surely you could use one, or have able bodied council staff become used to parking in them as it is convenient to do so with no one to stop them?

Staff car parks work differently.

Some are simply a case of first come first served.

Others will designate spaces to people and get their car reg number.

In the latter case if the OP parks even with a blue badge on the car, at best they will be asked to move their car and at worse they could find it clamped.

The OP really needs to ensure they have a space to prevent problems.

Most companies and building management companies, tend to be sympathetic to people with disabilities and that includes those who don't have blue badges but can clearly be seen having difficulty walking.

Fleago

As a Local Authority, the council is also bound by the Disability Equality Duty and it might be worth reminding them of this. If you have a look at the above link, you'll find a lot of info on it.

I think the phrase "take steps to meet disabled people’s needs, even if this requires more favourable treatment." taken from the overview of the DED might be particularly helpful or perhaps this one, "take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons" from the Code of Practice.

Good luck!

mountainofdebt

Whilst I have alot of sympathy for the plight of the OP, the way I read the situation is this :

- The OP's place of work is moving from one council rented property to another and as a result of the move there will be NO parking spaces for any of their employees

- The landlord has been asked if the OP's employer can rent one disabled space for the OP.

- Landlord has come back and said no


To be honest I can't see how the OP is being discriminated against as NO employees will be allocated a car parking space. If the new premises just has parking for council employees only then yes try and appeal to their better nature but again I can't see how the OP is being discriminated against if they say no - however unfortuante the consequences are.

jazabelle

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Whilst I have alot of sympathy for the plight of the OP, the way I read the situation is this :

- The OP's place of work is moving from one council rented property to another and as a result of the move there will be NO parking spaces for any of their employees

- The landlord has been asked if the OP's employer can rent one disabled space for the OP.

- Landlord has come back and said no


To be honest I can't see how the OP is being discriminated against as NO employees will be allocated a car parking space. If the new premises just has parking for council employees only then yes try and appeal to their better nature but again I can't see how the OP is being discriminated against if they say no - however unfortuante the consequences are.

I have gone through this - all council members of staff will be allocated parking. In my office - most of the staff members are secconded from the council, so they will all get parking spaces. I think there are about three people left now, including me. We will have spaces paid for us in a public car park. That is fine for those two people. For me, it means I will not be able to reach the office at all on my bad days, and struggle on my good days.

So yes, every other member of staff IS being allocated a parking space. And yes, they have the right to be, as they are council employees, I'm not saying they don't. If I wasn't disabled, I wouldn't have a single cause for concern.

It might not be direct discrimination, but they very much know about my situation and have the means to allow me to continue to work.

jazabelle

robredz wrote: »

Just a thought, if they have no disabled staff using the bays, surely you could use one, or have able bodied council staff become used to parking in them as it is convenient to do so with no one to stop them?

There are six blue badge holders in the entire council - so I assume they will all be used after the move. I don't know how many disabled bays they have. I'd just like one as close as possible, really, it doesn't have to be a disabled bay.

olly300 wrote: »

In the latter case if the OP parks even with a blue badge on the car, at best they will be asked to move their car and at worse they could find it clamped.

The OP really needs to ensure they have a space to prevent problems.

Yeah, agreed. I don't want to have to fight over a spot every day - or take someone's that is rightfully theirs.

Fleago wrote: »

As a Local Authority, the council is also bound by the Disability Equality Duty and it might be worth reminding them of this. If you have a look at the above link, you'll find a lot of info on it.

I think the phrase "take steps to meet disabled people’s needs, even if this requires more favourable treatment." taken from the overview of the DED might be particularly helpful or perhaps this one, "take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons" from the Code of Practice.

Good luck!

Thanks very much, I will add that to the letter!

LittleMissAspie

jazabelle wrote: »

In my office - most of the staff members are secconded from the council, so they will all get parking spaces.

I hope the council does give you a space, I think they should. But if they don't, as a last resort, are you friends enough with anyone that you can swap places with them? You said you only work one day a week so surely someone will be kind enough to let you have their space for that day. Just an idea if you get nowhere with the council.

Also if you get nowhere I think it would make a great news story for your local paper

mountainofdebt

Thanks for clarifying the sitatuation.

I still don't think you are being discriminated against though, I think more you are a victim of numbers if anything.

Do you know how the spots will be allocated or will it be, as already mentioned, first come first best the nearest spot?

The reason I ask is that even if a colleague is willing to give up their spot to for you, then it may be - if its on the later basis - as equally inconvenient for you.

Personally I would be making a point of finding out how many disabled parking bays there are before you send the letter- this may have been the sole reason for the council refusing in the first place.

The other point that springs to mind is why isn't your employer kicking up a fuss - given they know your circumstances I would have thought they would be kicking up a fuss rather than letting you do all the dirty work and I would have thought they would have more clout as well.

jazabelle

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying the sitatuation.

I still don't think you are being discriminated against though, I think more you are a victim of numbers if anything.

Do you know how the spots will be allocated or will it be, as already mentioned, first come first best the nearest spot?

The reason I ask is that even if a colleague is willing to give up their spot to for you, then it may be - if its on the later basis - as equally inconvenient for you.

Personally I would be making a point of finding out how many disabled parking bays there are before you send the letter- this may have been the sole reason for the council refusing in the first place.

The other point that springs to mind is why isn't your employer kicking up a fuss - given they know your circumstances I would have thought they would be kicking up a fuss rather than letting you do all the dirty work and I would have thought they would have more clout as well.

No idea, but blue badge holders go first, then people with medical problems that aren't officially disabled, then people that use their cars daily for their jobs.

My employer has been and will still continue to kick up a fuss. I just wanted to help too.

There are a few hundred spots, I'm not asking specifically for a disabled spot, just a space in that car park.