Parking and the elderly

Do you think that disabled people don't need to be taken shopping either? What about days out? Perhaps just reopen the institutions for disabled children. Why wouldn't someone still want to be involved in running their house.
@Catapultaway if the supermarket is on a retail park, it can easily be half a mile. Ours is a third of a mile (just looked it up). Walking using the trolley as a walking aid, inside is a lot easier. Then there's the wheelchairs.

@Ireallycantthinkofagoodone as said, challenge the decision, take over the application.

End spaces are not always available. People are debating here if you can be charged for parking in P and C spaces. As I said previously, supermarket car parking is usually on their land and they make the rules. The usual public car parking/ road parking rules do not apply. Sometimes these supermarket car parks are managed by private companies. They can send you a fine in the post if you don’t go by their rules. Yes this can be if you have incorrectly used a P and C space.

The best arrangement I've seen for P&C spaces had them round the back of the store, so not near the door, but no crossing traffic between the spaces and the supermarket door.
I think our local supermarket has a couple of benches near a drop-off layby immediately outside the front, making it an easy option to drop off a physically disabled adult and then go and park further away.

For the amount of time that would have taken, it would be better to park in the parent and child space, unload your mother, then move yourself elsewhere. People who hold up the traffic in car parks, especially for how long that would have taken, are really annoying.

That’s unreasonable, an able adult, should be able to park on an end space, life is easier with kids than being disabled

Well said. The argument 'if you can do x you can do y' often misses the point and works against disabled people.

I cannot believe how many idiots people on this thread either can't read or are not capable of employing some critical thinking but still assume they know better.

Its quite the worry.

My mother who’s 91 has a BB due to her being wheelchair bound . She doesn’t drive but Im her carer . I need a wider space to get her wheelchair alongside the car for access . If the BB spaces are full , I park at the entrance and get her out of the car and into the wheelchair, often causing a traffic hold up . I go off to park and meet her at the entrance and do everything in reverse when we’ve finished . It’s not ideal bit I wouldn’t park in a P&C space .

There was a report on our local news about a man with a leg amputation whose application to renew his blue badge was refused. The council's excuse was that he hadn't supplied sufficient "proof" that he needed it, despite having to use a prosthetic foot and walking aids. And they were very quick to point out that they were "following national guidelines" - otherwise known as passing the buck. Local councils always claim to be short of cash, but are happy to waste it on re-assessing blue badge applications from people who are never going to get any better. At any rate, I've never heard of someone with a temporary disability even being awarded a blue badge in the first place, so don't see the logic in their insisting that all renewals need to be treated as new applications. In the case mentioned above, it's not as though the poor chap's leg is going to miraculously grow back, is it?

Just use the parent and child spaces while you challenge the blue badge rejection.

I have a blue badge as I am physically disabled but I can't understand why an elderly man with mobility issues would not be entitled to one, that is crazy. Tbh if there are no available disabled bays my husband and i have been known to park in a parent and child bay. We display my badge clearly and if one is around we let a parking attendant know and they have alwaysjways been fine about it. My husband has been mistaken for my Dad on a number of occasions despite only being 5 years older than me.

Many disabled people have a BB, who cannot, or do not drive for whatever reason. You don't have to drive to be eligible for one, and if you read the OP, you would have read that he did have a BB, but for some reason it was not renewed by the LA, and should be appealed.

If he’s confused and doddery then he doesn’t need to be taken shopping does he!

Just drop him off at the door with his walker and then park the car 🤷‍♀️ he doesn’t need a blue badge as he doesn’t drive and anyone with him can drop him off and he is capable of walking with a walker. He isn’t disabled he’s just old which is why he’s not eligible for a BB

It’s really fucking annoying needing a p&c spot and not being able to get one. There’s always loads of spare disabled spaces but hardly any p&c provided, so I think you still use disabled

Didn't know they were being restricted but seems unfair he wasn't issued one and I wouldn't care about him using a P&C space because of it. I don't think the P&C spaces need to be moved though - near us there are soo so many disabled spots! And we know someone in her thirties who got a blue badge because of PTSD. I don't know enough about it but I just find it confusing how that could warrant a blue badge but still mean she's safe to drive.

I have no issue with P&C spaces being further away, in fact I often wonder why they are near a door at all. They need to be wide, not near. When mine were little I parked near a trolley bay rather than P&C spots near a door.

I also disagree with posters who say drop and go, then find parking. Perhaps your 93 year old relative needs help out of the car so you need to park.

I would like to see more spots reserved for elderly or disabled people but without a badge system this is open to abuse

Is there any way you can have the blue badge decision reviewed?

My perfectly able neighbour has a blue badge which he uses for priority parking in a busy hospital car park. There will always be CFs

haha - new to MN are you?

and what happens if the elderly person is confused and wanders off or falls over before you can get back with the car?

You can appeal the blue badge decision. Did you include a letter from your GP?

Reapply for the blue badge and lay it on thick: He “cannot walk 20m unaided” etc. If you say a single positive thing about mobility it will be denied. You KNOW he and you need the badge so don’t feel guilty. The assessment system is broken.

I do think you would be unreasonable to use a space for which you are not entitled. You could drop him off and then park the car.
Supermarket car parks are private spaces that belong to the supermarket. They are not community spaces.
Supermarkets like their customers with young children and go out of their way to help them. Unlike older people (including me), they will be spending a lot of money with them for many years to come.

My thoughts too. I am 80, I have a blue badge due to arthritic knees, one full replacement, and neuropathy in my feet which affects my balance. At times I have needed a stick. How one completes the questionnaire is so important. Look for your local branch of Age UK (Age Concern hasn’t been around for ages) they can help complete the application.

On a good day, I’ll park in an ordinary space, but sometimes I need to walk as short a distance as possible and then I’m grateful for my badge.

I would challenge the decision to not renew his BB . It's not like he got younger or his ability to walk unaided has improved! Definitely appeal . Ridiculous ruling .

While awaiting a BB for an elderly relative I parked in P&C . If anyone wanted to challenge me ,the sight of me taking her wheelchair out of my boot would have detered them . I believe BB unauthorised parking is liable for clamping and/or fine . But P&C is not . Correct me if I am wrong . Believe it is something to do with discrimination.

😂 where do you live that supermarkets have carparks half a mile in length