Asda Disabled Parking Policy

mel48rose

My partner works for Asda. When he joined he was told that anyone who has a mobility problem can use the disabled spaces but need to go Customer Services with the car reg to ensure they won't receive a ticket. As far as I know this works for that particular store in Hull.

Fergie76

AltheHibby wrote: »

rdwarr,

I fully agree re the able bodied. My disabled father always complained that he couldn't get spaces then offered me his badge to save me paying for parking!

The problem is that some people don't 'look' disabled and that others have abused the system, making it harder to decide exactly who should be entitled. This sort of abuse will always happen, but PPCs are not the way to sort it as they abuse and cause hassle more people on a daily basis than the selfish drivers do.

Thing is though, to be entitled to higher rate Mobility of the DLA, you have to be unable to walk or virtually unable to walk (from memory). And to be entitled to a blue badge you need to be entitled to the higher rate of Mobility (again from memory, so may be wrong).

I know blue badge is not valid on private land, but disabled spaces should be for the same category, 'unable to walk or virtually unable to walk'.

How you police that, I don't know? Maybe it should be self policing.

But I guess what I'm saying is that if someone has not got an obvious disability of 'being unable to walk or virtually unable to walk', then maybe they should consider whether they really need the disabled space or not.

Fergie76

Just to add in some council car parks, it says that blue badge holders should use the disabled bays when available, however, I can drop my wife off near the exit to where we are going and leave the disable space for someone more need and park in a normal bay, however, this appears to be in breach on the conditions of use of the blue badge.

pc1271

Why are all disabled spaces right next to the door? Some disabled people only need extra space to open the door fully or get a wheelchair out of the car, but once out are quite capable of getting themselves across the car park and spending an hour going from shop to shop around town.

If some of the spaces were put further away (but still easily accessible by wheelchair), they would be less likely to be abused, and be available for those who only need a bit of extra room.

This should certainly be adopted for 'parent and child' parking - as long as there is a safe path, these spaces should be at the back of the car park.

rdwarr

Most people with mobility problems don't need wheelchairs, they just can't walk very far. And as soon as you put some near the doors those will be the ones everybody goes for in the same way that the car parking spaces closest to the doors of a gym always fill up first.

Coupon-mad

Fergie76 wrote: »

But I guess what I'm saying is that if someone has not got an obvious disability of 'being unable to walk or virtually unable to walk', then maybe they should consider whether they really need the disabled space or not.

I agree the person/driver should always consider whether they NEED the space or not. The Equality Act section on 'reasonable adjustments' is there to protect those who need to use a provision.

But have to disagree about the walking/mobility thing being the only category who 'should' be able to use such a bay. Far from it IMHO. What about passengers (or drivers in some cases) with:

- impaired vision
- mental incapacity
- certain severe phobia/anxiety conditions
- cancer or other condition causing fatigue/pain but not mobility issues
- severe vertigo
- ME
- autism
- dementia
- epilepsy

and loads - dozens - of other conditions where the passenger would be much safer if the driver can park very close to the store/restaurant or where ever they are going. They do not need a wider bay in most cases but they do need a very close bay and the service provider is under a legal duty to make sufficient provision for them just as much as for those with long term mobility issues.