UK CPS Ltd - what shall I do??

zzzLazyDaisy

Stroma wrote: »

The only provision needed for disabled people is one in time, most supermarket/retail parks are never fully used ever>>>>>. The stupidest designs are ones where disabled bays are right next to the cashpoint machines for example.

I agree with you about putting disabled bays next to ATMs - there is one supermarket near me which I can't use - because the disabled bays are near the ATMs, which are quite a walk from the entrance to the supermarket (there is only one disabled bay at the entrance itself).

But I do disagree with the point that the only provision needed for disabled people is time. I have lost count of the times that I have driven round a supermarket car park and had to give up and go home because the disabled spaces are full and the only available normal spaces were at the far end of the car park, which is too far for me to walk (and get round the shop, and still be able to walk back to the car afterwards... not forgetting about then having to go and park the trolley and get back to the car again). Plus the fact that I drive an adapted car which has large doors so I can get in and out of the car and which are impossible to open in a normal space with another car parked a few inches away next to me.

It is human nature to park as close to the door as possible, and unless spaces are reserved close to the door for people with mobility difficulties, those people will often be unable to use the shop at all.

I do think it would be helpful if people who are disabled but not using a blue badge could leave a note to this effect on the dashboard. It wouldn't stop those who are determined to abuse the system, but it would help those who are genuinely in need of a disabled space to alert the PPC to their situation.

Daisy

Stroma

As I said Daisy its about design of the car park, if it was done sympathetically for all users of a car park, and making provisions of disabled people in other ways, such as having the specialist trolleys in the trolley parks, having more of those. And other things that make things easier for everyone.

And lets face it, if supermarkets truly wanted to help people, they should have someone who can help shoppers with their shopping to the vehicles, there is a huge gap in the market for a retailer who truly caters for disabled people, they make adjustments only when forced, they make provisions grudgingly.

I am considered disabled not in mobility but in other ways, Its in the Equality Act that I am so as its a lifelong condition, I wouldn't use the provision I am entitled to, but then I struggle to get in and out of my vehicle as its also large.

There are no easy answers I think.

Guys_Dad

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

I do think it would be helpful if people who are disabled but not using a blue badge could leave a note to this effect on the dashboard. It wouldn't stop those who are determined to abuse the system, but it would help those who are genuinely in need of a disabled space to alert the PPC to their situation.

Daisy

We are all agreed, I think, that this is a difficult one to solve.

• Wider spaces for all = less parking spaces
  
• No special provision for disabled = able bodied using the nearest to the shops, as anyone would and most of us do where no restrictions.
  
• Landowners bring in blue badges only = genuine disabled without their blue badge complaining under equality law about getting a ticket.
  
• Register your vehicle scheme = fine till you get a lift from a relative etc.
  
• Put a junior on monitoring = "Go away, sonny and get a proper job"

Now if supermarkets were to identify and ban abusers, that might help, but even that has issues like different car, different member of family, different card being used to buy groceries, etc could mean that it was no deterrent and, of course, the shops don't want to lose custom.

As I said, we have to deal in the here and now. A note referring PPC to the fact that the person is disabled and also to the Disabled concession on the car tax should be sufficient to avoid the ticket and landowners could easily bring in something like that.

Knowing that you stand a chance of being ticketed if you don't display a blue badge, it seems sensible to avoid the hassle of getting a ticket and then having an appeal situation, it would not be too difficult to mitigate your chances by leaving a short note on the dashboard.

Stroma

It is a difficult answer, and I think it could be different for every car park. So it comes to what I said originally, its down to the person only if they require adjustments under the Equality Act from the retailer/service provider. And when informed of the disability they must make reasonable adjustments.

Lets face it, what qualifications do the parking company possess to determine disability and need of the bays by someone parking, who made them king ?

shellybpool

To be quite honest I didn't think of putting a note on the windshield, but will do so in future..

Guys_Dad

shellybpool wrote: »

To be quite honest I didn't think of putting a note on the windshield, but will do so in future..

Gives you the high ground and you can then go straight to the store manager if you get a ticket, show him the ticket and demand that he cancel it or you will take it up with head office and local newspapers.

Let's hope your blue badge comes through soon.

zzzLazyDaisy

Guys_Dad wrote: »

As I said, we have to deal in the here and now. A note referring PPC to the fact that the person is disabled and also to the Disabled concession on the car tax should be sufficient to avoid the ticket and landowners could easily bring in something like that.

Just for clarity - in order to have a disabled concession on the tax disc the person must be in receipt of High Rate Mobility component of DLA (now PIP), which automatically entitles them to a Blue Badge, so the only people who could make use of putting a note on the dash in that situation would be people who have forgotten their blue badge (still worth doing though).

The people who would need to identify themselves are those who have a disability within the meaning of EA2012 which means that it takes them longer to shop and/or causes mobility problems that are not sufficient to jump the high DLA/PIP hurdle for an HRM award (people with long term chronic conditions which cause extreme tiredness/exhaustion for example), or those recently disabled who are in the process of applying for PIP.

Daisy

nigelbb

Stroma wrote: »

And lets face it, if supermarkets truly wanted to help people, they should have someone who can help shoppers with their shopping to the vehicles, there is a huge gap in the market for a retailer who truly caters for disabled people, they make adjustments only when forced, they make provisions grudgingly.

That would be Waitrose who offer to help shoppers with their shopping to the vehicles. They also offer "Do your shopping in branch and we’ll deliver it to your door."

Stroma

How about printing something like this

The person in this vehicle is considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010, a reasonable adjustment is therefore expected under the Act.

Put it on a big a4 and laminate it if you wish and leave it on display when you use a private car park, obviously this won't work on council land or public roads

Guys_Dad

Good advice as always Daisy.
Suggest note should read
"I have parked here because I have a disability within the meaning of EA2012 which means that it takes me longer to shop and/or causes mobility problems. Ticketing me would be unlawful, so please don't do it".

Edit Sorry, Stroma, you beat me to it