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Original poster

Parent and child spaces - would you sign this petition?

688 replies

confuseddazed · 24/05/2015 17:26

A woman has set up a petition for safeguarding parent and parking spaces for under 5s here

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 26/05/2015 16:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sallystyle · 26/05/2015 16:15

No I wouldn't sign.

They are a luxury at best. Many of us older parents managed without them perfectly well. Instead of being thankful for that bonus people moan about them being used wrongly etc.

It's nice if you can get one but not the end of the world if you can't and, well, starting a petition strikes me as quite pathetic really.

SauvignonBlanche · 26/05/2015 16:15

but it fucks me right off when people purposefully make life more difficult for others just because they are lazy knobs

Like people who make instant judgements on other people's health and mobility? They're usually knobs. Hmm

PurpleDaisies · 26/05/2015 16:16

Unless you live someone else's life don't even try to to judge. Your talking about making other people's lives more difficult whilst trying to pass judgement on how much the struggle based on watching them for a few seconds.

This.

I have ME and my body is like a battery that won't recharge properly. I have to be incredibly careful with my activity levels so I don't end up so exhausted I can't work (or sometimes get up) the following day. Unless you are psychic there's no way you would know by looking at me. I have never parked in a p and c space but I have friends with the same condition who do to minimise walking with a heavy trolley. I can understand why.

Mummyboo30 · 26/05/2015 16:16

Ok fair enough ballet, that's a little extreme. I'm not trying to offend anyone, just saying how it is on an everyday basis.
For those talking about individual disabilities and difficulties, obviously I'm not lumping you in here, I'm generalising obviously. But the vast majority of people who do this do not have hidden disabilities or difficulties. Statistically it just isn't.

MrsDeVere · 26/05/2015 16:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

1Morewineplease · 26/05/2015 16:21

Hissy.. Blue badges are being mentioned as it's been noted that P&C spaces are at times sited nearer to the entrance than disabled bays... That can't be fair.

ChuffinAda · 26/05/2015 16:22

When I get out of my car I will no doubt look like a selfish knob

Watch me as I get back to it though and you'll think you're watching two totally different women.

My point being you cannot judge anyone on a cursory watch in a car park.

ChuffinAda · 26/05/2015 16:23

I also suggest some parents read up on hidden disabilities and educate yourself

Mummyboo30 · 26/05/2015 16:35

As I said earlier, for those who need them, they should be available for use. Ada I am not talking about people with actual issues, but those without. You can't pretend that the vast majority of people who use the spaces that don't have children all have physical issues. It's just not true.
And actually I am pretty well versed in disability, having worked in disabled care for years.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/05/2015 16:38

And no, it's not my petition, but it fucks me right off when people purposefully make life more difficult for others just because they are lazy knobs.

I saw a mother do that once (well I've seen it more than once) but on this occasion it was beyond the pale. The "culprit" was a very elderly man who parked in the last P&C space with his equally elderly, wheelchair bound wife. He was just getting her wheelchair out the boot when this nasty bitch pulled up and screamed and shouted at him about how he shouldn't be parked there, he wasn't entitled (yes, she did use that word) and almost reduced him to tears.

I told him to stay put, and told her he needed it more than her. All the disabled bays were full, but her gob was still going 90 to the dozen. He moved his car telling me he didn't need the hassle. She pulled in to the space and skipped in to shop leaving her child, who was about 11, sitting in the car. Angry

That poor man and woman would have spent ages getting ready to come out, getting the lady in the car etc and they didn't need or deserve that. It still pisses me off and it happened about 2 years ago.

Sirzy · 26/05/2015 16:40

If you have worked in disabled care for years then you should be aware not to judge a book by it's cover!

Scattymere · 26/05/2015 16:40

Totally agree with Mummyboo.

But I'd change signage to clearly show a buggy and maybe call it parent/baby/toddler spaces / clearly show its for under 5 year olds where there is still a buggy in car. Seeing a car drive into these spaces, doors open instantly and 9/10 year olds springing out with smug parents walking alongside seriously gets my goat. Just no more need for them to have the space than anyone else.

balletnotlacrosse · 26/05/2015 16:41

What a cow Fairy. Some people are really obnoxious. And also a bit thick because I doubt anyone with a brain in their head would have reacted like that.

Sirzy · 26/05/2015 16:42

scatty DS is 5.5 and still needs to use a buggy a lot. So is he ok to park in those spaces even though he is over your designated age?

1Morewineplease · 26/05/2015 16:45

Oooh that's made me cross FairyCaravan! I've seen plenty of parents leave their children in the car in a P&C bay and jump out to use the cashpoint or dash but what you've just said... Makes my blood boil!

Scattymere · 26/05/2015 16:45

Sirzy forgive me my 1 DC is only 15 months so have no idea how long buggy-usage continues Confused but yes of course your DS would qualify, where there is a buggy- there is a need!!

TheFairyCaravan · 26/05/2015 16:48

Oh, yes she was thick ballet.

It made my blood boil too, 1MoreWine, it still does when I think about it.

1Morewineplease · 26/05/2015 16:48

In fact , now you've come to mention it , Many's the time I've seen older children get out of a car in one of those bays ... Some folk really think that they are entitled to these places even when there's no reason whatsoever to use them .

Sirzy · 26/05/2015 16:51

Buggy usage doesn't normally continue to 5, but DS isn't a normal 5 year old. My point being that you can't always place limits on things as life doesn't work to those limits

Scattymere · 26/05/2015 16:52

1Morewineplease exactly see it constantly...I was sat in car park queue other day and car in front grabbed last P&C space. Managed to finally get a normal/tiny space across from them and was just staring at them as I got out as saw no sign of obvious child. He clocked me, opened door and a 10 year old springs out while he literally gave a half laugh at me, toss of hair and walked smugly off as if to say "so THERE"...while saw me struggling to get screaming DS and our buggy out of our car in cramped space. Didn't get it - at all.

SauvignonBlanche · 26/05/2015 16:55

I've seen older children get out of a car in one of those bays ... Some folk really think that they are entitled to these places even when there's no reason whatsoever to use them
But how do you know that? Hmm
The last time I used a P&C space was a couple of years ago with DD, she was 13 at the time and had just had major surgery and was really struggling to get in and out of a car. I merrily parked in one just by the door outside M&S and assured DD that if anyone said anything they'd get a piece of my mind - fortunately no one did. Wink

BubGal13 · 26/05/2015 16:59

I've just Google'd P&C signs and seems Tesco already have theirs with large sign saying "reserved for children under 5 so that parents have room for pushchairs". The pushchair/buggy symbol is really obvious in a lot of other shops signs & this is what it should fall down to.

Diamond23 · 26/05/2015 17:00

I agree with mewkins what's the point in a petiton to compel a private land owner to do something? That's like someone petitioning me to put my plates in a different kitchen cupboard. I put them where I like.

Eggs are not from cows- if someone has parked so close you can't get into your car, you do what people have to with or without children- take the number plate into the store and get a tannoy announcement put out for them go come and move it.

Sparklingbrook · 26/05/2015 17:01

It wasn't until I joined MN that i realised P&C spaces caused such angst. i was amazed people even took any notice of where people park and that they were willing to get into fights and shouting matches over it.