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

Not at all Singsongsung... I was merely referring to P&C spaces ... There needs to be even more disabled parking spaces at supermarkets and placed nearer to the door than the P&C spaces that are offered at my local supermarket... I just think that there are more needier of spaces near the door than those who simply have children like those who have had ops, or a bit frail or with silent disabilities etc..

PunkrockerGirl I have a small car and buggy that won't fit into the boot so it take a lot of careful re-jigging to fit us all in. Made harder by tiny car spaces. So yup, I like a lot of mums, too experience all those Scatty describes too Its really great you are so sorted to find shopping with a struggling, screaming toddler on top of this such a breeze but it can be pretty stressful.

Try not to sound quite so condescending and judgmental.

I've never seen a supermarket where the disabled spaces are further away than the p&c ones. If yours is that way you should complain to the supermarket, not the parents who are parking in spaces designated for them.

The 'baby spaces for people with babies' argument looks straightforward but, like so many other things, actually creates a horrible situation where genuinely vulnerable groups are purposefully disadvantaged because a much, much less vulnerable or needy group are able to shout louder and spend more in the shops.

Why on earth should elderly people, or people on crutches, or people with CFS, or a whole host of other people, be excluded from using the spaces most suitable for their needs? In what way is that just?

Because, you see, campaigning for a permit system to ensure that only parents with young children use these spaces achieves exactly that.

What we need to do is ditch the P&C name and with it the idea that people without children parking in them is 'abusing' the spaces. It would be much better to put up a nice sign saying, 'Extra wide, accessible spaces. Remember other people may need these spaces more than you.' However, then parents of young children might have to ask themselves if they really need an extra wide, accessible space and if they'd be happy using one if it means a frail old lady can't.

But peas, don't you see, mums with young children should shop on line, outside busy times, leave the children at home etc etc. It is our poor planning you see that is the problem. And you know, no one asked us to have children. And in the olden days, people would travel on horse back for seven days to buy a carrot so you should think yourself lucky....

Well fuck me backwards. It's descended into a bunfight.

What a surprise.

punk anxiety can be a real problem for some people. It's horrible to live with. No need to mock

To be honest, if someone with a child is getting that stressed about a bloody parking space then they need to really grow up, get a grip and a reality check.

Alternatively, if someone is such a delicate snowflake that they think they are going to get stressed over something so insignificant then should these people actually have children.

Most of the time I will happily shop online because lots of things irritate me about supermarkets - but that's my problem, my issue and I have no intention of starting a petition about them.

And yes, supermarkets ARE dependent on everyone's money. People with older children, people without children - whatever their circumstances - all contribute to the supermarkets profits. I'm pretty damn sure that, if questioned, Tescos or whoever don't actually give a damn if someone parks in a precious P&C space for whatever reason, whether they have children or not, as long as they spend their money in their store and not go elsewhere.

Some parents are entitled twats and you give the rest of us a bad name.

Again Calamatous- argue with the supermarket!! Tell them to designate another area for those with temporary needs. Don't penalise parents with young children who, despite opinion on here, also have needs.

Well put CalamitouslyWrong, the problem, as always is that self-regulation is open to abuse. The damage caused by the badge scheme, suggested by this petition, may cause much more harm than good.

Great passive aggressive post there Sing

Don't go shopping, ever. Don't take the kids. Have the butler pop out for essentials, the maid can carry the heavy stuff.

If you do need to visit the supermarket, ask the manager to park your car for you. So much easier!

1More.. Do you feel that the disabled should similarly stick to online shopping if they are inconvenienced by supermarket parking then?

The thing is, disabled people aren't really comparable to people who happen to have small children at all. It's not a good idea to keep pulling it out as a comparison.

Some reasons (not an exhaustive list):

1. A few years with a small child (and only the first few weeks need involve removing is not comparable to a lifetime of being disabled.
2. The difficulties of removing a car seat or putting a child into one in a parking space are in no way comparable to what it's like to be disabled.
3. People choose to have children, knowing full well that they'll have to cart a baby around.
4. Doing online shopping for a few months because you can't face the supermarket (or just the car park) is not the same as never being able to visit one because you actually can't do it.

Having a young child is a temporary state.

Perhaps some parents of young children should consider others rather than living in their own little bubble.

Again, Tesco does not give a shit if you're finding parenthood hard. IT'S A MARKETING PLOY!!!

Yes it is temporary. But for that period of time, a bit of help is helpful!
I'm with the butler idea actually. Send the staff. That's the way.

I think after reading all this people should just mind their own business and get on with their shopping. No time for gawping at who is parking where and having a row about it in the car park.

Yes Klaydon but it is a useful, helpful one.

zazzie campaigning for one group does not trump understanding of another. All those people that have used other more needy people as examples, what are they actually going to do to make sure those people get spaces they deserve? Start another petition, picket supermarkets? I doubt it!

Yes it is temporary. But for that period of time, a bit of help is helpful! as it is for other people experiencing temporary or permanent inconvenience, why exclude them?
P&C spaces did not originate from any specific campaign or legislation.

Someone call the social services please. I get real anxiety attacks so apparently I shouldn't have had children.

I'm actually a bit flabbergasted that in response to a post pointing out that designating a set of space for parents only can be actively harmful to genuinely vulnerable and needy groups in society, I've just been told: Take it up with tesco. Don't let them park in our P&C spaces.

It's a wonderful illustration of the attitude problem. I mean, who cares about the needy and the vulnerable? There are some women who find getting the car seat in and out of the car a bit difficult.

Sparklingbrook - yes! Wise words.