Change of signage for disabled parking at Tesco

Iceweasel

I visited the biggest Tesco in Aberdeen today (Danestone) and immediately realised that the Disabled Bay signs were different.

They were RED -
with a white wheelchair symbol and writing which simply said Disabled Parking

What an improvement - no other rules or regs anywhere in sight and definitely no mention of Blue Badges.

I had a word with a junior 'manager' in a smart business suit who explained that they had recently had a complete re-think of their policy.

She couldn't tell me whether this new policy was going to be rolled out over the whole of the UK or even the whole of Scotland - but she said they were well aware that there were many disabled people and others with special characteristics who needed to be taken into consideration.

Well done Tesco - Morrisons, Asda, and others take note.

Has anyone else noticed this?

da_rule

Does a PPC 'manage' the car park at this particular Tesco?

Iceweasel

da_rule wrote: »

Does a PPC 'manage' the car park at this particular Tesco?

Not as far as I'm aware - there are no signs mentioning PPCs or any restrictions at all, that I could see.

pogofish

Interesting - A PPC used to "manage" it - I can't remember who.

However, a while back, I had a chat with a manager there about the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments for disabled people who don't have a blue badge. It is a store where I have never had a problem with my disability and parking.

However, there is a longstanding issue of Aberdeen stores being used to test new products, layouts and policies -Partly because until recently NE Scotland was seen as a pretty self-contained regional market, with a dominant local media and little crossover between adjacent regions - although the retail majors expansion into smaller towns has changed that somewhat.

nobbysn*ts

Iceweasel wrote: »

I visited the biggest Tesco in Aberdeen today (Danestone) and immediately realised that the Disabled Bay signs were different.

They were RED -
with a white wheelchair symbol and writing which simply said Disabled Parking

What an improvement - no other rules or regs anywhere in sight and definitely no mention of Blue Badges.

I had a word with a junior 'manager' in a smart business suit who explained that they had recently had a complete re-think of their policy.

She couldn't tell me whether this new policy was going to be rolled out over the whole of the UK or even the whole of Scotland - but she said they were well aware that there were many disabled people and others with special characteristics who needed to be taken into consideration.

Well done Tesco - Morrisons, Asda, and others take note.

Has anyone else noticed this?

It would be good if shop did this. Technically, I am disabled. Chronic illness. I'd be the first to admit though, absolutely no mobility issues personally, but my "special characteristics" do frequently include them as part of the illness. So it would be good to get a space by the entrance, and park for as long as I want. It would never happen in council spaces, as there is no chance of a blue badge, but as you say, no one in the private sector could guess I haven't mobility issues. I know disabled spaces are just graffiti on the floor, but I think we should all make a stand and work the system. Keep sticking it to them, and eventually we'll show them. Keep it up on here!

Iceweasel

I only shop in Aberdeen once a week, and it could be at any of the big name supermarkets.

From now on I'm going to take much more notice of who 'manages' what, and I'll be telling the Asdas, Morrisons and Sainsbury's what I think about their signage.

pogofish

Smaller Sainsburies have recently moved over to Horizon Parking, so they can't be that bothered about iffy signage. Don't know if its the same for their larger stores.

Union Square also recently moved to Smart Parking (increased the fees too) and some of their signs are a hoot! Pity, the previous PPC in there could be quite helpful.

trisontana

Our small Sainsbury's have just one Horizon sign near the entrance door mentioning disabled and P&C spaces. That's it. no signage when you enter the car park. Even before that sign appeard there were notices near the disabled bays saying something like "if you are registered disabled please feel free to use these spaces. If you are not disabled, please leave the spaces for those that need them". No mention of blue badges and PPC free.

HO87

I applaud Tesco's for their honest efforts here. Someone somewhere has finally caught on. It would be of tremendous value if that same person could now persuade DMUK (Disabled Motoring UK) that possession of a BB is not the sole determinant of one's rights to use a disabled space.

Were that ever to happen - that the scales fell from DMUK's eyes - perhaps they could then persuade their partner PPC's. I'll not hold my breath.