NCP Car Parks

mandingo403

I wonder can anyone help me with this. I was out the other day with a friend who has walking difficulties who used an NCP car park. The disabled parking bays in the car park were being used by other disabled drivers so my friend parked in an ordinary bay. However, she needed extra room for her wheelchair at her side of the car as there was a car parked beside her.

I returned 30 mins later to find a ticket had been posted on my friends car. When I challenged the inspector I was told her wheels were outside of the white lines and that he was "just doing his job" I tried to expain the situation but he would not listen and walked off.

Is this dispicable or what? I feel like taking NCP car parks to court for discrimination. Does anyone know if my friend could do so?

jellynose

The Equality Commission have a department dedicated to disability and have people there that can give advice, and I believe even take a case on your behalf. I would give them a phone, the number is 90500600.

Good luck.

arkonite_babe

Please let us know how you get on, this is taking the p!

Robothell

OMG, it really is more than their job's worth isn't it?

NAR

mandingo403 wrote: »

The disabled parking bays in the car park were being used by other disabled drivers so my friend parked in an ordinary bay. However, she needed extra room for her wheelchair at her side of the car as there was a car parked beside her.

So are you "not" saying she occupied two bays, which it sounds like? If this is so, then she has no right to do so, just because the disabled bays are occupied. I'm all for people illegally parking in disabled spaces being fined. Bit sorry but this cuts both ways. She should either have waited for a disabled space to free up or look for an alternative carpark. And before I get flamed I am someone who would take my own advice!

IvanOpinion

I am at a loss to explain the high proportion of "disabled" people in this country since many of them seem to be able to run into shops when it suits their purposes (as I noticed in Bloomfields the other week while waiting for DW). The wife of a friend of mine works in a gym were every day a bloke comes in, parks in a disabled spot (clearly showing his badge) and then spends the next two hours on joggers, steppers, rowers etc... and apparently has complained when a car in a disabled spot was not showing a badge.

I think that there should be at least two kinds of disabled spot, one for people in wheelchairs or possibly even on crutches with much wider bays and standard spots that are 'closer to the door' for others. Originally handicapped spaces were for wheelchair users now it appears that an ingrown toenail is suffice to get a badge.

Ivan

steveymp

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I am at a loss to explain the high proportion of "disabled" people in this country since many of them seem to be able to run into shops when it suits their purposes (as I noticed in Bloomfields the other week while waiting for DW). The wife of a friend of mine works in a gym were every day a bloke comes in, parks in a disabled spot (clearly showing his badge) and then spends the next two hours on joggers, steppers, rowers etc... and apparently has complained when a car in a disabled spot was not showing a badge.

I think that there should be at least two kinds of disabled spot, one for people in wheelchairs or possibly even on crutches with much wider bays and standard spots that are 'closer to the door' for others. Originally handicapped spaces were for wheelchair users now it appears that an ingrown toenail is suffice to get a badge.

Ivan

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

Well said that man, jesus I must be getting old when I start to agree with Ivan:rotfl:

Colin_Kee

Looking at it from a different prospective. Am I the only one who thinks that the car park bays in these places are getting smaller? (I don't think cars are in general getting any bigger!!) I'm assuming there is a "British or European Standard" for the size of a "Standard" car parking space. (There seems to be one for everything else!!) I wander if these folk who lay out car parks really pay much heed to whats realistically required as oppposed to cramming in as many spaces as possible.

A thing I noticed in some places also, especially shopping centres, is an inproportionate number of disabled parking spaces compared to "Parent with Child" spaces. It ain't exactly easy getting a baby in a child seat in and out of a car in normal parking spaces either!! and I'd imagine there are more parents with babies or young children than there are disabled people!!

IvanOpinion

I think that in general cars are getting bigger .. try looking, for example at a VW Polo versus a VW Golf versus a VW Golf from several years ago .. the Polo is as big as a Golf. Similar with the Fiesta/Escort.

What I don;t understand is why do they place car parking spaces at 90degrees to the direction of travel (a difficult manouvre) .. why not place them at 45degrees to the motion of travel?

Ivan

ian_duncan_smith

Not all disabilities are visible. My mother suffers from epilepsy. In the event of her having a fit I don't want to be dragging her across a busy car park, dodging all manner of inconsiderate drivers, so I can get her to an open carpeted quiet space just because someone has arbitarily decided that only wheelchair users are worthy to use disabled bays.

I suffer from faecal incontinance, sometimes I need to park near to public conveniences so I can get to them on time, would you deny me a spot close to the loos?

IvanOpinion

Ian, not demeaning anybodies disabilities but are you suggesting that someone in a wheel chair or on crutches permanently should be made to park further away because someone else has an occasional illness that may or may not be an issue at that point of time. Wheelchair and crutch users will need extra space to get in and out of the car whereas someone with those illnesses you describe will not require additional space in normal circumstances therefore a standard sized spot should suffice (still closer to the door but second preference to the 'physically' disabled.)

Ivan