Quick poll: supermarket disabled parking without blue badge, yes or no?

[WestieMamma]

I'm half an hour from home for the sole purpose of nipping in to the post office (just inside the supermarket) to post a letter which absolutely has to go today. I've only gone and bloody left my blue badge at home.

I've pulled into the nearest regular space and am looking at the distance and there's no way I can manage it today. It was going to be a struggle to get from the disabled spaces as I'm in so much pain at the moment.

And just to rub salt into my wounds, the reason the badge isn't in the car is that I took it into the house to photocopy it because the letter I'm sending is to dispute a parking ticket I got for parking in a 'no parking zone'. The traffic warden didn't take into account my displayed badge which means I can park there.

So park without a badge for 5 mins and risk the wrath and hatred of everyone who sees me, or an hours drive to fetch my badge?

I would park, but beware of another potential ticket (which I presume you couldn't challenge in this instance). Or is there a more convenient post box on way home if just a normal, stamped letter?

Risk the wrath and hatred. It probably won't be that busy anyway at this time and you know you're entitled to park there.

Oh yes I'd park for sure! You need it, and it's a supermarket so you wont get fined.

So you have a blue badge but you've left it at home? Look, if you're youngish, everyone will assume that you're not really disabled anyway, blue badge or no blue badge - it's a fact that you can't be disabled until you're at least 75.

You're in pain at the moment - the last thing you need is to make your day longer. So ignore any dirty looks, repeat to yourself: "I have a right to use these spaces", and get your job done.

Disregard this advice if you're likely to get a fine.

I'd risk it in your position.

Remember this is Mumsnet...where the keyboard warriors may give you a skewed view of the outside world

I really don't think it's going to be a big deal if you're questioned and you explain why you're parked there.

If youre in a supermarket car park then just do it.

Do it.

You are in supermarket and entitled to park there so just do it, ignore other shoppers.

do it, but tell the security guard you have a blue badge. Most likely he/she won't care and will say they have nothing to do with the parking, but if does result in a ticket (unlikely) then you can say you told xxx at (note time).

Phew! I did it. Now I just have to wait for my heartbeat to get back to normal, I'm such a wuss.

Thanks everyone for the courage boost. I had to go into the post office, rather than sticking it in a box, so I could have it tracked and prove it was sent and received within the deadline.

The supermarket have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers and your lack of a badge doesn't make you any less disabled.