Disabled Parking On Private Land

Annieuk75

At my sons primary school there is a disabled parking bay. I have a blue badge, as does another parent, and we both use this bay. We have just found out that the Headteacher is allowing anybody to park in this space.
It has a yellow wheelchair painted on the floor and she said that because it doesn't have a blue wheelchair sign, that it can be used by anyone.
Are they allowed to do this?

Browntoa

as far as I am aware it has no legal standing on private land

but its the sort of story the local papers love

also worth a complaint to the Education dept direct

Richie-from-the-Boro

Its a council that would set a criteria for this, so speak to your local council. Any such criteria would be for the provision of disabled parking bays within the school boundary, its a business use and is a matter for the business itself.

rogerblack

However, any business is required to do reasonable adjustments to help with the needs of disabled people.
If the policy of effectively removing the disabled bay, by not enforcing the policy is causing problems to disabled users, then they may be breaching the equality act. (By discriminating against them, when the reasonable adjustment that can be done is to enforce the parking)

Richie-from-the-Boro

The headmaster has re-set what s/he thinks is a school rule. He, or the board of governors has no power whatsoever to do so. My limited knowledge suggest there is is no duty on the LA to provide these business use bays under any (1) existing council policies, (2) the Road traffic regulations or (3) the Disability Discrimination Act. Now assuming there was an LA provision for this kind of parking made its almost certainly the case that it has not been expired, but simply the headmaster has been lobbied to change what he believes to be a school rule - but its not a school rule - the O/P / disabled blue badge holder should get in touch with his local ward councillor and ask what the LA propose to do about the headmasters behaviour.

NOTE : Before the swarms come down screaming - "I'm disabled and I don't have a blue badge" I say if you can even begin to be mobile without a blue badge you are not in this context and my reply [parking closer to a destination if you're disabled] disabled.

tomtom256

Is it a staff car park as most schools don't have parking for parents dropping off/collecting their children.

If it is they do not have to enforce it as it would likely be for a staff member and/or official visitors use only.

Morglin

When we vote, we use the disabled bay, at the local primary school, and all is fine.

I would contact the LEA, and the local media, who could perhaps ask the Headteacher how many staff are disabled, and need the bay.

If no staff are disabled, then, obviously, it is for visitors, with a BB.

Any organisation that is taxpayer/government funded should be applying the usual rules.

Lin

SingleSue

The boy's school rather prefer I use one of the disabled spots even without the blue badge.....I've even got a special pass to get into the staff car park to use the disabled spots!

The main reason is it makes it easier for the support staff for youngest, less danger, less chasing around and closer to the door so less struggle to get him in the doors (he receives HRC LRM but no blue badge - not tried to apply since he was about 5). Other reasons are my obvious reduced mobility and the fact I have another ASD child (neither of us receive DLA or have a blue badge).

Richie - I feel I have to reply to your comment, I do not have a blue badge, not because I don't need one but because, well because I keep putting it off thinking I may get better (Hmm, had a wheelchair blooming 3 years, crutches about 5!), or pride or just plain stubborness/stupidness. I should really have one I think as my ability to walk any distance now is greatly reduced, instead, I wait until the boys are not at school so that they can push me in the wheelchair instead (I cannot self propel due to my shoulders dislocating - I have a connective tissue disorder on top of a degenerative condition and arthritis).

So in answer, I tend to avoid doing things rather than apply for the blue badge...stupid woman or what!:rotfl: