Parking and the elderly

So why can't you just be a good chauffeur and drop him/pick him up from right outside the shop? You can park wherever, he can sit and wait for a short time, or get started already, and doesn't need to walk any extra metres.

He’s probably answered the blue badge questions as if it’s his best day, rather than his worst. My MIL did that - she was answering the questions putting on a brave face. On a good day she can walk further. But mostly she can’t. She did it again as if she was having a medium to bad day and she got the badge back. Those are the days she needs it for.

If by ‘nails it’ you mean ‘totally fails to understand what the blue badge is for’, sure…

I know a number of people with blue badges. None of them drive (one has been significantly physically and mentally disabled since birth and has never driven).

No it doesn't. A lot (if not most?) blue badge holders are passengers in cars, not the actual driver.

The blue badge scheme is ridiculous. My grandfather, following a full leg amputation, had to wait 6 months to prove the disability was permanent (in case the leg magically regrew?). The badge finally arrived a couple of days after his funeral. We are not set up as a society to deal with our aging population and the realities of an aging body.

It's cumulative. The far end of our carparks are about 800m. The elderly can do the store but not both. Also the additional space between cars helps them to get in and out if they are stiff, achy or need aids. The store is warm and dry; the car park may be slippery underfoot, if it's raining they struggle with a stick(s) and an umbrella.

Also getting out to shop is a social construct. Chosing, chatting to the cashier, bumping into an acquaintance, having a cup of tea and a cake in the cafe.

Ring age concern they help you it’s all about meeting the criteria with your answers on the form it you haven’t worded it properly then it will be rejected
what evidence did you send ?
did you get a doctors letter ( yes it’ll cost you £35 but you’ll save that in parking)
generally with out evidence it’ll be rejected as you could put anything

Not sure of the correlation with moving the parent and child spaces. How does he get around the store if he is unable to walk from the car to the store. If its so painful for him would it not be an option to let him select his shopping online for delivery.

@Ireallycantthinkofagoodone write to one of your local councillors or your MP to ask for their help with an appeal.

My mum is 90 and not yet using mobility aids. However has: a meningioma, basal ganglia infarcts, Parkinsons, suffers dizzy spells and aura unpredictably and also from anxiety re losing her confidence. All triangulated in medical letters, along with attendance allowance. Her local council said a 16 week wait for a decision as she wasn't a priority/automatic applicant. It took six weeks and I was gobsmacked.

She no longer drives but step or I accompany her when she goes out. It's been brilliant for hospital appointments.

Did you provide documented evidence?

This.

First post nails it.

As a mother of 3 small people (all in car seats ) I'd have no issues with them being further away - although I absolutely sympathise with those with kids who run off and have to navigate a car park and can see the risk. I only need the width so I can get them out of the car.
However...the amount of old men, yes I'm pigeon holing folks, who park in P&C bays and wait for their wives absolutely drives me mad. I honestly cannot get my youngest out of the car in a normal space and have had to get her out and ask a passerby to stand with her and my middle one while I park the car.
So old men...Why cant you drop off and park somewhere else? Drive back round when they're done. Don't have a phone? Get one. There said it. And I feel better for it 😂

P&C spaces need to be somewhere close if you need to get a suitable trolley while carrying/holding hands with small children. Otherwise you have to lock them in the car while you get the trolley you need.

I believe a blue badge is compared to others your age. And he’s doing very well for his age!
And if he’s your passenger you can drop him at the entrance and park further away.

I am only 55, have mobility needs that stop me doing what I’d like but aren’t bad enough for a blue badge. Sometimes I can’t manage the walk from the car park to the place I’m going, and still have energy for the event I’m at.

It’s very unusual for someone’s blue badge to be taken away and he certainly sounds as though he qualifies for one. Did something significant change? Have you considered appealing?

If the supermarket car park has a management company and t&cs posted then you may well get a fine if you park in a p&c space without a child. So be cautious. The same for parking in a disabled space with no BB.

Can he appeal the BB decision? It certainly sounds like he needs one!

As to why p&c spaces are near the shop - they're not always, but they gesnerally to have a safe footpath from the spaces to the shop, for small children who are walking. Which is obviously easier if they're near the shop.

It is for those over 65 and meet the eligibility requirements. Not all councils offer these so not well known.

You can let him out at the entrance, park anywhere and pick him up again at the entrance or collection point if he's not driving. Parents with children can't do this safely with small kids or babies! You are being incredibly selfish.

There is so much abuse of blue badge spaces. You get a booklet with a blue badge that very clearly says not to park on the hashed lines between spaces as they're there for access and doing this is an abuse that can mean your blue badge can be cancelled.

Old people in small cars are the worst for parking way over the hashed lines. I use a wheelchair; there is no squeezing through a smaller gap. I have had to give up and go home from shops when there's been nowhere safe and accessible to park.

Yes park in P & C space.
it is not a public road, so no fine can be enforced.
Also P&C space are courtesy of the supermarket.

I have never heard of a brown badge either.

I dont think anyone would begrudge the use of a p&c space. But also thought private car parks can't enforce blue badge or can they? As in just park in the disabled space anyway.

Pretty sure everyone agrees they should be wider spaces but not next to the shop door meaning they'd only be used by those who actually need the width.

What the heck is a brown badge?

or you could do what most people would do and challenge the decision since you got one before.

having 'elderly' spaces wouldn't achieve anything, people already abuse p&c ones because they're closer to the store entrance

That’s unfortunate but if someone cannot get in and out of a car safely because they have a disability they should use p&c spaces. Why should they struggle?

No, these spaces are for p&c and there's never enough of them. Please don't use them and get the blue/brown badge sorted.

Assuming he's bring driven, drive to the door, drop off, park, pick back up at the door.

If he's driving, that's concerning.

Op - please tell us that you're not supporting a 93yo, with slow reactions and confusion, to drive?!