Parking and the elderly

I don’t need to be near, I need to be able to open both back doors wide enough to get my children in and out without damaging cars.

Use a parent and baby space and appeal the decision.

Parent and child spaces are increasingly not near the front anyway. They're down the sides with a safe footpath instead.

It’s far harder to get a badge these days. Despite this bizarrely plenty of able bodied seem to have them in the town I work in, if you can run you don’t need one (and no they are not picking someone up, my desk overlooks that road so I have been keeping watch and am liaising with the parking team who are convinced there is a major fraud problem but haven’t the resources to put the pieces together)

Absolutely it does. It is good all round for him to get out, and be a part of what is going on, and get some gentle exercise, instead of being inside all of the time, and doing the weekly shop online. I have seen that type of comment before, and despair at the lack of thought behind such comments.

Challenge the decision I've noticed recently that blue badges, carers allowance, benefits etc quite a lot are just refused first time and they're hoping you go away. If you challenge or reapply you get a fair shake and may still not qualify but they've actually looked.

Can you though if you are surrounded by large cars ? You might not park next to one but by the time you get to go home you are collared in by two monsters machines? The space you want is all gone.

that's right - only young people should be allowed to be out. Not elderly doddery gits, getting in the way and nicking all the parking spots, the cunts.

So much ageist shite - where are the mods?

Any posts have to be reported, if you feel that they warrant it.

not sure about anywhere else but in meadowhall you can only use the P&C if you have pre-registered with them, and the child has to be there when you register.

Which means visitors from out of town aren't able to use them, and nor are locals who need a temporary wider space. It is infuriating, especially in older car parks where the bays are calibrated to car widths that are 30 years out of date.

it is reactive not pro-active modding so you have to report.

But ageism is generally ok here, and the reply will be something along the lines of "meh, we're leaving it up, plenty of people are challenging it in the comments"

There seems to be very little understanding of what old age actually means to one’s mobility, resilience, and confidence.

This. A lot of people, currently dismissive of such problems, are going to get a shock as it happens to them.

I’m in my seventies and though I still work, exercise and have a busy social life the difference between how I was even ten years ago and how I am now is very noticeable.

You can't if they are anxious. And yes the car parks at out of town retail parks here are vast.

If that's the case then she would drop him off at the drop off/taxi space or by the entrance surely?!

Why should she? That makes everything much tricker rather than parking in a safe and suitable parking space.

Often the only place to drop someone iff involves stopping in the road.
It then takes time to get them out and somewhere safe.

Then the same in reverse.

You would think they would have a system to pre-book a P&C bay or something.

Or at least be able to go up to concierge services and ask for an exemption.

Can't do that with a elderly person with dementia either.

OP YANBU. We were refused a blue badge for my dad - profoundly deaf, dementia, couldn't walk that far but enough to wander off. Used to take 2 of us to get him to the gp - one to stay with him and one to go find a parking space on an adjacent street as they only had blue badge parking. Utter nightmare.

Recommend re apply

https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

They don’t need to drive themselves to need a blue badge. Anyone giving them a lift will probably need it.

My DM’s care home had one for relatives to borrow if necessary.
When taking DM (then over 90) to e.g. the optician it was impossible to park anywhere nearby, except with a blue badge, and she was no longer able to walk any distance. And I couldn’t drop her off to go and park - she had dementia, would very quickly forget that I was coming back and get into a panic.

I voted that you were unreasonable because I also read it as you were supporting him to drive. Apologies, I agree with you 100%.

My teen has one and she could probably run, if she could be arsed. By your definition, she is visibly able-bodied. She is however blind.

I have a blue badge because I cannot walk very far and am in pain every step I take. I have renewed it twice, every time I end up having to appeal but I do get told what additional evidence I need. This time, last October, it was an updated medical report ( can’t recall exactly what it’s called) which is a print out I get from my GP of all my visits, referrals, medication etc. It is simply a printout from my records and I do not get charged for it.

I think the rejection letter has the phone number to use for an appeal so I suggest you do that and ask why the renewal was refused.

Yes op, this is shocking. You need to appeal. He should have a blue badge no question.