What is the Mumsnet consensus on P&C spaces?

P&C spaces are just a marketing gimmick. Disabled spaces are not.
A lack of disabled spaces could mean the difference between a disabled person being able to park up and shop, or not at all.
And a lot of elderly people have mobility issues and and do not have BB, either because hey are not disabled "enough" or through a sense of pride.

They didn't have a blue badge in the window and even if they were disabled they shouldn't be parked in a parent and child bay any more than a parent should park in the disabled bay, if which there were many spaces, imo.

It’s hard with P&C because they could simply say they’re off to pick the child up (and will be coming back with it). I have flagged down someone parking in a disabled space with ‘excuse me, you’ve forgotten to display your blue badge’ which is less arguable if they don’t have one, and a helpful reminder if they do have one 😇😉

I challenged a man in his work van in our local supermarket. He said his van got damaged in a normal space and he didn't care. 🤷‍♀️

How do you know?

I’m in the camp of you shouldn’t be using the car seat outside of the car. Just because it’s sold as a perk doesn’t mean it’s good for the baby.

I know that's what I said - they weren't disabled as they didn't have a blue badge, they were just lazy.

Just because someone is elderly does not mean they have a BB and are therefore entitled to park in BB bays.

We had one due to my baby having numerous health issues. They are very dufficult to use. I used to have to go home if I couldn't get p+c at busy times when car parks were full.

Every time I go to the supermarket old men are parked in the P&C bay apparently (I've confronted a few) waiting for their wives...
I was seething yesterday because I spent ages driving round a carpark looking for a space to get the car seat out of the car (4 year old I could have managed but not the car seat)
Ended up luckily finding 2 spaces the furthest away - which I'm fine with, I wish theyd put the bays there to stop people parking in them - to see not one but two couples 70+ getting into their cars with no kids. There were LOADS of disabled bays so it wasn't that. It really drives me mad.

You're not "equally as bad", you're a million times worse.

Hope you get a ticket.

My view is that we don't need P&C spaces.

What we do need is larger spaces which cost extra to use - which people with bigger cars can use. And which could also be used by someone who needs more space, eg if they've broken their leg but it's only a temporary situation.

Charge more, and I suspect that many parents will find that they can manage just fine with the normal spaces.

Alternatively - put the P&C spaces at the far end of the car park and I also think you'll fine most parents can manage without.

When my ds was small, there weren't many P&C spaces and there was always a queue to use them. I was far too impatient for that so I just found an underused part of the car park and parked where I could easily get the door open.

I think they should be moved to the furthest area of a car park to avoid people who don’t need to use them to be able to park right at the entrance of the store which is our observation.
I also usually just see people who want to protect their special cars using them. Sometimes drivers who aren’t competent , still parking diagonally in the bay despite the additional space.
If there are not enough blue badge spots then those should be increased. I have a chronic condition but not eligible for a badge but don’t use the bays unless I’m with my children. I’m happy to park at the furthest point in the car park but I still always end up with people parked on either side of me 🤷‍♀️

I've noticed this too however not so much the stereotype that you're describing. Anything from couples to single men in a shitty old car parking in the P&C spots. It infuriates me beyond belief as I have the small baby and really appreciate the extra space!
I am however equally as bad as them I suppose as if there are no P&C spaces remaining, I will go park in a disabled bay (in a supermarket where there's usually at least 3 rows dedicated to them and plenty available).

I’m using them at the moment because my health has taken a downturn and I’m having to use a wheelchair, so I need a bit more space to get in and out of the car. I can’t park in the BB spaces because I haven’t got a BB (I can normally manage so don’t need it). I have had a couple of glares but, to be fair, nobody has continued once the chair comes out. If I’m staying in the car, or there are no P&C spaces available so I have to stay in the car and send DH in, then so be it, it’s a standard space.

I think it’s so subjective. Someone whose car seat doubles as a push chair is obviously going to need extra space. We don’t need more space when we’ve got a three year old with us, so don’t tend to use them. But he’s not a bolter. Someone with a bolter might need that space. I’m not convinced that fit and well children up to the age of 12 always need that space. It’s not a one size fits all thing, so that means that some people who don’t need it are going to benefit or people who do need it will have to lose out.

They make life so much easier to take a baby/young child out and about to have the extra space for the car seat. When I was pregnant with DD2 and had really bad PGP, and also had to help DD in and out of her car seat, I actually don’t think I’d have managed by myself if i couldn’t park in a P&C space.
My DC are 10 plus now so wouldn't dream of parking in a P&C space because I don’t need it.

Maybe they should have two sets of them. Some near the store and some down the far end of the carpark which would deter those that are simply too lazy to walk

Why can’t people be nice? To me it’s that simple.

Im grateful I don’t need a disabled bay so wouldn’t use one. Similarly I don’t have a pushchair that needs that extra space, motherhood is wild esp in those first few months/years I don’t need that space give those that do that tiny bit of help that possibly makes a huge difference to their day.

I can walk so I should.

my friend returned home once in tears that she couldn’t park in a bay and it was really with a new born and it was just too much. Some people genuinely need these spaces.

I have a 2yo and have used a P&C space precisely once.

I think fussing over access to them is rather silly and extremely undignified. It's not that hard to deal with a non P&C space. In fact, I prefer them.

My opinion about parent and child spaces is that they are a combination of a sop to planners and something for the retailer or retail park owner to try to look good. No intention of ever seeking to enforce them directly or indirectly.

The use by people without children especially in SUVs is because either they cannot drive and park to an adequate standard, or because of the many others who cannot, or both. Car park bays are not designed for the proportion of SUVs and other large vehicles that are on the roads today.

SUVs and higher performance cars should be a separate category of car licence, with higher standards to meet.

They’re not saying YOU will get a fine. They’re saying tescos can fine people who park outside of the conditions of their car park.

The best way to stop the selfish gits is to put the P&C spaces further away from the store entrance

I'm not suggesting we need special spaces. I'm suggesting bigger. Average space has 6 inches either side if parked centrally. If you honestly believe that's enough so be it. I don't even think p&c spaces should be a thing. There a novelty unlike a BB space which my nan needs. I'd rather bigger spaces and more BB than more p&c
Edited to add:
Yes I have had to leave when I couldn't get a space for my disabled nan. Because she can't get out in a normal space!

I have noticed this too, but P&C spaces tend to be right next to the path. If you have multiple young children, then it is safer for them to be standing on the path right next to the shop whilst you unload the others than it would be for them to be standing in the middle of the car park.

And not all BB holders need to be right next to the entrance either. For many, they just need the extra room.

Maybe a mix of P&C spaces/BB spaces further away from the entrance would be the way to go, as well as the ones close to it.