Any advice on Disabled parking, blue badges and service stations etc

Coupon-mad

Richard_T_ wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, looks like it will be a case of "needs must"
If i do get a ticket, hopefuly the parking companies or service station staff will see sense/show some understanding when the situation is explained to them.

OK so a service provider like a Service Area has a legal duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' under the Equality Act 2010. That's for those disabled people who need provisions such as a disabled bay. Not just for those who happen to have a Council Blue Badge (irrelevant on private land).

What I would do is use private disabled bays but always put a note on the dashboard 'Passenger has a mobility impairment and meets the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 - Blue Badge applied for but not needed on private land. Store Management aware.' Or summat like that!

And also when arriving inside the premises go straight to the Customer Service desk (in a store) or till point (in a Motorway Services) and ask for the Store/Centre Manager. Explain that you have used a disabled bay as is your right and does the Manager want to make a note in the store diary with your car registration in case you are ticketed 'by mistake'? And to note that you may need more time than the arbitrary time limit for able-bodied people, again reminding them 'this is our right under the Equality Act 2010, as you may be aware'. They won't have a clue IMHO - but you'd be in the right.

If you prefer, take note of the staff member's name and Manager's name (keep a little notepad in your pocket for such trips).

Then go about your business, take longer than the time limit if you need to, safe in the knowledge that the Service Provider knew about the issue up front and you can prove it. Much more 'fun' to be in that position than having to argue from scratch when/if a ticket arrives one day.

Do not do this in Council disabled bays - the situation is different, penalties covered by statute.

Richard_T_

Again, thanks for the advice, had to stop a few times on the journey, used a disabled bay when required, and a normal spot when not, it was a bit of an eye opener, especialy the neeed to open the door fully.
As for tickets etc, nothing was attached to the car and there was nobody in the car park checking anything although I suppose thats where the high tech anpr systems may kick in with monitoring disabled bays and cameras looking for blue badges and so on.
I will be making the same journey again in reverse after the new year so will see what happens then.

android26

Coupon-mad wrote: »

.. go straight to the Customer Service desk (in a store) or till point (in a Motorway Services) and ask for the Store/Centre Manager. Explain that you have used a disabled bay as is your right and does the Manager want to make a note in the store diary with your car registration in case you are ticketed 'by mistake'?

I was going to say something similar.
Many sites give out parking permits to contractors.
You could ask for one, stating disabled bay use, if there are patrols instead of / as well as anpr.

Iceweasel

Richard_T_ wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, looks like it will be a case of "needs must"
If i do get a ticket, hopefuly the parking companies or service station staff will see sense/show some understanding when the situation is explained to them.

I can assure you there is absolutely no chance of relying on that at all.

My old dad, (a fiercely independent guy) a month or so after his hip replacement, parked in a BB bay at a motorway service area.

He entered with difficulty (with the aid of 2 sticks) and attempted to explain to the staff why he needed to park close to the door.

10 days later he got an invoice in the post.

Being in Scotland we just ignored it - but in England and Wales you can't safely do that any more.

4consumerrights

Richard_T_ wrote: »

Again, thanks for the advice, had to stop a few times on the journey, used a disabled bay when required, and a normal spot when not, it was a bit of an eye opener, especialy the neeed to open the door fully.
As for tickets etc, nothing was attached to the car and there was nobody in the car park checking anything although I suppose thats where the high tech anpr systems may kick in with monitoring disabled bays and cameras looking for blue badges and so on.
I will be making the same journey again in reverse after the new year so will see what happens then.

Parking Eye mis-manage all the Welcome Break motorway sites so just because you haven't had a windscreen ticket doesn't mean to say you won't get one! - At least you will know where to come should you receive one so that it can successfully be challenged at POPLA.

Coupon-Mad's suggestion above was in fact actually spot on - and I would recommend that you do as she suggests for your journey back at least. Should you then get a ticket as Coupon says we could have "FUN" in arguing the point later should the occasion arise.

esmerobbo

Nearly all "management" of these areas is a camera on entrance and a camera on exit. Very few have any sort manned car park management. So as long as you are in and out on time parking is left to the drivers management!

Richard_T_

quick update of sorts....

Its been a while since the journeys, and traveling with someone who has mobility issues in getting in and out of cars is certainly an eye opener, im not sure how long the parking companys have before camera issued tickets time out, but as you can probably guess I received no ticket attached to my car, as the only existence of car park management were a few cameras on a pole at the entrance and exit sliproad.

Quite how this counts as car park management is beyond me, if there was a warden patroling on foot, and keeping things flowing then that may be management.

On a separate subject - that probably deserves it own topic I received a nice letter after having the audicity to visit the same supermarket twice in one day and the letter states that under the protection of freedoms act the driver is required to pay the parking charge in full.
I will be popping into that store tommorow to have a few words with the manager/ - and possibly start a new thread If possible/required i will try and scan the letter for you to have a look at.

Redx

its called "double dipping" and is covered in parking pranksters blogs

sometimes they have a "no return within" clause

but yes, try and get it cancelled by the store manager asap