Blue badge - private parking

keith6920

Hi all, 

Quick question.

I visited a gym today that is in a large mill and parked in a disabled bay (with a valid blude badge).

When I came out I was confronted by someone who approached my car that the disabled bays were for his business only and 'he was the land owner' it was agreed by the gym I had to park further away. 

When I mentioned that I have a valid badge and a disability was told 'not my problem' and to park elsewhere next time. 

Is this legal? 

There are signs stating that the spaces are for the business only, but then seperate signs for blue badge holders. 

The parking he's suggesting I use is a good 5 minute walk, which defeats the purpose of the disability bay located outside the door. 

Anyone with more knowledge and suggestions as I'll be going once a week for physio, thank you in advance.

Sad__Sam

If you check the blue badge book, it covers the areas you can and cannot park.
Namely public areas, not private.

A deeper dive into planning may reveal how the business received planning, ie allowance for disabled parking. 
Ultimately his land.

I have a Blue Badge, can I park in your driveway - NO
If you have a disabled parking bay outside your house, on the main road, can I park there, YES, while displaying my badge.

molerat

Blue badge on private land is not a free for all as it is on the highway, in fact on private land a blue badge has no dispensations as it does on the highway. You were not visiting his business so you had no right to use his disabled spaces, you should have used the disabled space provided by the business you were visiting.

Herzlos

If the disabled bay was for a business other than the gym then you shouldn't be using it for the gym. In that case I'd be talking to the gym about making some provisions available - does the gym have any parking?

Mildly_Miffed

If somebody came to visit your neighbour, parked in your parking space, and said "But I've got a blue badge", would you let them use it?

Ectophile

Mildly_Miffed said:

If somebody came to visit your neighbour, parked in your parking space, and said "But I've got a blue badge", would you let them use it?

You may not have any choice in the matter, given section 54 of the Protection of Freedoma Act.  Assuming England here as the law is different in Scotland.  I don't know about Wales or Northern Ireland.

You're not allowed to clamp somebody's car, or tow it away, or deliberately block it in.  And you can only send them a penalty charge if you're a member of a recognised scheme and have all the right signs up.

Mildly_Miffed

Ectophile said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

If somebody came to visit your neighbour, parked in your parking space, and said "But I've got a blue badge", would you let them use it?

You may not have any choice in the matter, given section 54 of the Protection of Freedoma Act.  Assuming England here as the law is different in Scotland.  I don't know about Wales or Northern Ireland.

You're not allowed to clamp somebody's car, or tow it away, or deliberately block it in.  And you can only send them a penalty charge if you're a member of a recognised scheme and have all the right signs up.

There is, of course, a world of difference between the business owner coming out and telling you not to park there - and them being able to enforce it legally.

But you're right, the legal options available to landowners to stop the entitled abusing their parking are incredibly limited.

KeithP

This thread has been moved from the Motoring Board.

Coupon-mad

Mildly_Miffed said:

Ectophile said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

If somebody came to visit your neighbour, parked in your parking space, and said "But I've got a blue badge", would you let them use it?

You may not have any choice in the matter, given section 54 of the Protection of Freedoma Act.  Assuming England here as the law is different in Scotland.  I don't know about Wales or Northern Ireland.

You're not allowed to clamp somebody's car, or tow it away, or deliberately block it in.  And you can only send them a penalty charge if you're a member of a recognised scheme and have all the right signs up.

There is, of course, a world of difference between the business owner coming out and telling you not to park there - and them being able to enforce it legally.

But you're right, the legal options available to landowners to stop the entitled abusing their parking are incredibly limited.

Which is a very very good thing.

Le_Kirk

Maybe have a word with the gym owners and the business where you parked and ask them to put signs or paint on the tarmac where the various blue badge sections are for each business.