Parent and child spaces - would you sign this petition?

[confuseddazed]

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

Well said CalamitouslyWrong, it's exactly what MrsDV pointed out earlier. Mentioning the concept of I think it's more decent to want to help mums of young children in anyway possible with a little understanding of how difficult those first months and yes, years, are. in the same breath as the life long struggle that a disability can bring is mind boggling.

Completely agree calamitously

No Singsong, you don't need a wider space. You'd like one. Big difference.

I don't believe myself to be on a par with the disabled (what a strange sentiment that is). However a baby who can't walk and requires pushing around a supermarket isn't actually that different if you base your assessment on physical abilities alone

This sounds very much like you are comparing shopping with a baby is on a par with being disabled. Would you like to clarify what you meant?

Sauvignon- I am not the one who has repeatedly compared bb spaces with p&c ones! In fact I have repeatedly questioned why people are so inclined to do so! Genuinely I will repeat the question that has been utterly ignored- why be aggressive against those who find p&c spaces helpful? Why not complain that there aren't enough bb spaces or that the council are too stringent with bbs? Why attack one group of people because your needs aren't being met?

Do you think that everyone who parks in a p&c space without a child has a disability then- hidden or otherwise because I beg to differ.

saying shopping with a baby is on a par with being disabled in the post above.

Sauvignon was quite clear that her husband cannot get a blue badge because of the intermittent nature of his condition. They don't hand them out like sweeties.

Thanks for the tip Diamond. Problem solved then. I can just wait it out with my baby while the customer is called who will happily immediately stop their shopping, abandon their trolley and dash to my aid. Fantastic.

Sauvignon- why would you park in a p&c space but not in a bb space with your husband who has a disability?
I'm astonished that you feel the need to ask but let me explain.
When DH is in so much pain that he can hardly walk I'm happy to use a space intend as a marketing ploy to make things slightly easier for parents of young children but I'd never deny access to a space, designated in law, as being for a person who meets the criteria for a blue badge, the next person to come along may need it more than him. The NT parent of an NT child wouldn't.

And what if the mother or father of that child also had a disability that was intermittent? Or was recovering from a c section? How do you know their need is less great?

I don't really understand the point about disabled people without bB either tbh. Either you use spaces for their purpose or you don't. So BB spaces for BB holders and P&C spaces for P&C. You can't sort of self police whether you are in need enough to use a P&C space without a child because you can't walk far- that's not what they're for. You wouldn't decide to use a disabled space without a blue badge because you're struggling would you?

Fwiw my local supermarket has P&C spaces which are always full so I park elsewhere with my newborn (and I have a 4x4) yes, it is tricky to get her car seat out, or even just her. But that's life, I'm not going to get hysterical over it and insist on special treatment. And no, I don't hang around the P&C spaces long enough to ensure they are being used by the correct people and neither do I care.

Talk about moving the goal posts.
That's not the case you've been arguing.

Of course, there is the option to leave a struggling husband at home or to shop on line, as has been suggested to me.
But of course you have the right to shop together, how you want, when you want. A right which I fully agree with and want for myself.

Sing let me make this simple -

When p and c spaces are available they are nice. They are not needed

If one is free use it, if not park elsewhere

Not everyone who is disabled can get a blue badge. Actually it's bloody hard to get one

Shopping with a baby is in no way comparable to someone disabled trying to shop, or a parent with a disabled child trying to shop with them.

Parents who refuse to see the above are the ones making life harder for themselves. Parents who abuse people for using spaces without knowing any background could be making someone's tough day even tougher.

Oh good grief late to this old chestnut.

I have had 4 kids of my own and have been a childminder to dozens of under 5s.

I am quite able to park in a normal space. I do not need special treatment.

My mindees are under total control and either go straight in a trolley/pushchair or use reins/hold hands.

I usually park away from the shops as my setting encourages you know walking!

The petition is pathetic.

Spaces for those with a disability should be utterly guarded.

Thise with disabilities bloody struggle enough.

No one with a baby or toddler 'needs' special treatment and if you do apply for a blue badge to see if you are eligible.

I don't abuse anyone for parking in them (although I mentally grimace). I have complained to supermarkets for not policing it when I have seen white business vans parked in them, or young blokes park then run into the supermarket. I once spoke to customer services when I found on returning to my car that some clown had literally parked in the hatched area next to the space....

Let me spell this out.

When I go shopping I Park as close to the shop as close to the door as I can. If that means using a p&c space then so be it. I am not eligible for a blue badge as I can walk the required 50m or so that they stipulate. However I cannot walk very far for a sustained period of time without a lot of pain and discomfort

I hate shopping. But it needs doing.

I do ot to get out the house.

Purple- I think you need to re read my posts. Sauvignon- why would you park in a p&c space but not in a bb space with your husband who has a disability?

marvellous irony there, Sing!!! Berating Purple for not reading your posts and then doing EXACTLY the same thing with Sauvignon's.
If you had bothered to read Sauvignon's post she clearly said her DH does not qualify for a BB because his condition is intermittent. As he doesn't qualify for a BB they do not park in a BB space. They do park in a P&C space because it has no status in law, is provided as a perk only in supermarket car parks and nobody is going to suffer hurt if they cannot park in one. they might be mildly inconvenienced, but that is all. Whereas it makes a huge difference to her DH.

Sing I would go and watch the TV if I were you before you embarrass yourself further.

What's with all the "fuck it" and "deal with it" and "stop being so entitled" attitudes on this thread. Where on earth does the right for parents to have a wider bay trump the rights of the disabled? This has become a disabled vs P&C parking, there can be more of both you know!!

I did reread the posts and am still wondering how I don't believe myself to be on a par with the disabled (what a strange sentiment that is). However a baby who can't walk and requires pushing around a supermarket isn't actually that different if you base your assessment on physical abilities alone isn't saying that shopping with a baby isn't very different to being disabled.

I seriously worry for people who consider themselves on a par with a person with a disability because they have a mall baby and a toddler.

Please go to stoke Mandeville and educate yourself.

I think parent and child spaces are important - it gives parents space to get kids out of child seats, ensures there is enough room between cars to do this, also if you have a baby there is also the possibility that a Mum can be shopping within weeks of a birth, bit longer for cesarean supposedly (but needs must etc for some) but also Mums in that situation might need to be closer. Its also a safety issue in terms of ensuring that kids are least exposed to a car park full of moving vehicles that may not be able to see kids if reversing etc, least exposure to car park = least exposure to risk of accident. This works well for kids but also for drivers in terms of how bad would you feel if you hit a child whoever's fault it was. It all seems to be some kind of false jealously that people with kids might occasionally - for everyone's sake - need some sort of priority to ensure other people's vehicles are not damaged and everyone's safety is taken into account.

Well said calamitously.

Also its not an either or question is it - more of both where they are well used rather than basing it on the size of the store - base it on % in the local population.