has anyone got a disabled bay outside their house?

[Fio2]

is awkward to organise and does it upset anyone?

I have just had my new award through from the DLA and I have two years left so i can apply for a motability car, which i am going to do But we live in a terraced house in a restricted parking area and I have no idea how I will cope getting both the kids out of the car, plus shopping or whatever and walking back to my house. i think the easiest solution would be to get a disabled bay put outside. I am just a bit wary of upsetting anyone, just wondered if anyone else had done this, how it worked and whther it all went smoothly

[hoxtonchick]

we have a few on our road, fio, in a similar area to yours - terraced houses, restricted parking - it's never bothered me at all, i definitely think you sould apply for one. also, the ones round here are specific for different people, they have the number of the badge on & no-one else is meant to use them. don't know how well that is enforced though. good luck .

[chonky]

Fio, we live in a similar area to you, and if dd still has mobility probs in 18 months time I wouldn't think twice about applying for a bay. It's hard enough as it is carrying dd at the moment, so I'm not looking forward to next year when she still won't be walking (unless a miracle happens) but we won't qualify yet.

Good news about the car

[Davros]

We've got one outside by coincidence which is for general use, not specifically ours. I prefer that as I hate going to other areas and finding all the bays for specific people but, if I were you, I'd ask for a dedicated one heh heh. I can park in any of the residents' bays, pay and display, meters etc but I use the bay if its free so the neighbours can use the residents' bays. Always use the clock to be on the safe side! Are you going to learn to drive? Have an idea you don't drive at the mo?

[Fio2]

I can drive but I havent drove for 5 years

[Fio2]

obv I will be having some refresher lessons, must add that before you all have a look of horror on your faces. i am thinking about having an automatic too, just because it will be bad enough with dd sqwarking in the back without having to remember other things!

chonky, will you give my love to caroline the next time you see her. I have been meaning to email her for a while but I am so unorganised

[Davros]

Uh oh, warn us when to avoid the roads of Kent! I would get an automatic for precisely the reason you gave. I'm like squiddly diddly, getting out crisps, juice, changing the music etc and I couldn't manage with changing gear too (although I like a manual car for revving at lights!).

[Fio2]

my friend has just had one of citroen xzara things aswell as she says its easier to navigate the road rather than having a medium sized car, anyone know about this

[moondog]

Why would anyone mind Fio2? If you need it,that's all that matters. Noone sane could begrudge you that!!

[sweetheart]

we lived in a terraced row of houses where parking is really bad and there is a disabled parking aby outside our house.

I wouldn't normally mind but the boy it is there for goes to a special school during the week and spends one out of every two weekends with his dad so he's actually only around 2 out of every 28 days so it really pisses me off that he gets an allocated parking space.

Plus his mother uses it all the times he's not at home and she's not disabled!!!

[moondog]

Yes sweetheart,that's the problem isn't it? Makes things tough for people who really need these spaces frequently. We used to live on a street with double yellows and one family had two disabled badges-would really take the piss,putting it into friends and b/friends cars. I complained time and time again and nothing was ever done.

Moved now.

[Blu]

In our area, it isn't possible to get a disabled bay for a specific user - the disabled bays are for anyone with a blue badge, and blue badge holders can also use any residents bay for free. I think you can ask for the number of disabled bays to be increased if they are typically all filled.
The man across the road from us goes to great lengths to ensure that no-one else ever parks in the disabled bay - when he goes out, his son moves another of their cars into the bay and transfers the blue badge. I have noticed that causing aggro!
But I can't see why anyone should be upset, and it's your right if you need it. Go for it! But start early, councils take an age with this sort of thing. And start by getting support from your local councillor - go along to a surgery.

[heartinthecountry]

Fio - I have been wondering about asking for one too as recently I've had to park effing miles from our house and carry dd back. But do you need to be getting mobility allowance rather than just have a blue badge?

I would definitely ask for a bay if I were you. Imagine that road gets pretty difficult to park in.

[RnB]

Message withdrawn

[suedonim]

My sis's dh had a disabled bay outside their terraced house (in Canterbury, so not far from you!). I think they just contacted the council and they came and did the necessaries. There was no problem with neighbours, afaik, and it was generally respected by people. After BIL died suddenly last year one of sis's priorities was to have the bay removed asap, bless her.

[suedonim]

Forgot to say, BIL had a Motability car, in case that's relevant.

[baka]

Fio- our local council only provide them for adults.....

[MandM]

Fio, In answer to the question you asked further down about what kind of car to go for, I have a Motability car for dd and choose a Ford Focus C-Max. It is absolutely brilliant. My parents have a Citroen Xsara, which is also good, especially for dd, but I do prefer mine.
They are excellent for navigating the roads, feeling confident etc, as you are slightly higher up than the rest of the drivers, so you feel really stable and in control iykwim. But I would say that the two main plus points for me are that dd is at a good level for lifting her in and out, there's no bending and stooping involved so as she gets heavier it will be safer and the boot space is excellent for walking frame, buggies etc.
HTH

[Davros]

I can see why that's annoying sweetheart. But if you have a disabled badge you are entitled to use it outside the disabled person's home, regardless of where the disabled person is at that time. When the boy goes to his father's the badge should go with him, they might need it. I don't think I take the piss with mine but I don't feel guilty about using the space outside when DS is at school all day, esp as it means I'm not taking up a residents' bay that can be used by any of the neighbours. What's really annoying is people without badges using it, but I have my 24 hour tow truck trick, heh heh.

[Easy]

I asked about this. It really depends on the council, as to how easy it is to get one. We didn't , but then TBH my main reason for asking was to try to stop next door from dumping their great flatbed truck outside the house.

When I spoke to the council, I was told that it can cause some problems with neighbours, but if you need one Fio, I'd go for it.

Why are you worried about applying for a car from Motability? I'll be getting my 3rd one next month (so had a car on motability for 6 years). It's quite a good scheme.

[pixel]

I did enquire with the council for a house we were going to have but came here instead so didn't need to follow it up. I was told that they come and assess the area and it can take about 6 months. It would have been for the use of any blue badge holder, not just ds.

My friend has always had a hard standing for her motability car and has never needed a bay but now she has moved and is finding things difficult so is thinking of applying for one. The only thing putting her off is that you need to leave the badge in the car and several people in her road have had their car windows smashed and the badges stolen during the night!

[heartinthecountry]

pixel - you are kidding! people actually steal blue badges? WTF!

[Davros]

Stolen blue badges are big business round here. Camden have introduced a substitute badge that stays in the car that is used the most with the reg on it so the car can stay in the bay but the blue badge can be taken out. Only thing is, its not available to childlren as it has to be the registered driver! I have complained about discrimination, to no avail! Actually, I used to take mine out when I wasn't using it but kept forgetting to put it back in and got a few tickets (refunded with a bit of whinging) but now I just leave it and haven't had it stolen so far (touch DH's head).

[Blu]

In our area of S London stolen Blue Badges are practically black market currency. Sadly, for some people, the harder or more expensive you make parking, the lower they will sink to get a free place. A CPZ is about to be introduced in our road (I hope) and I am certain that there will be a sudden outbreak of Blue Badges.

[Easy]

Apparently there is a roaring trade in stolen blue badges in pubs and clubs.

[Davros]

SO I could get into any pub or club by showing my blue badge [grin}
DS's blue badge I mean of course