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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School and disabled parking

42 replies

suchafuss · 30/09/2016 08:17

I have been parking in the primary school car park for a year with their permission as I am a blue badge holder. I have an invisable disability and do really need to park close.
Recently there have been lots of issues with parking with parents and taxi's following me into this car park which is only small.
Two days ago the admin person shouted at my children that they should not be in car park and then came to tell me I wasn't allowed to use the var park in future

AIBU to think they have a duty under the Equality Act towards disabled parents? don'r know what the hell I will do if they enforce this!

OP posts:

IzzyIsBusy · 30/09/2016 08:20

Does the admin person know you have permission?

Just talk to the head and reiterate your need to use the car park and ask that she informs other staff.

ScaredAboutTheFuture · 30/09/2016 08:21

We have this issue at our primary. The janitor mans the gate and turns away any car's that are not allowed.

IzzyIsBusy · 30/09/2016 08:22

Oh and why did she shout at your children? If it was done in a nasty way ( not shouting to be heard) then i would also mention that to the head.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 30/09/2016 08:23

Ignore the admin person and continue to park there. Maybe she didn't see your blue badge? If she kicks off again, point silently to the blue badge and drive off. You don't have to explain yourself to her and should not have to waste time going to see the head.

If it becomes an issue, then you will have to write a letter citing the Equality Act. I assume as it's a primary that it's not an academy so ultimately you could cc in the lawyers at your local council. But you should not have to go this far, just ignore.

ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2016 08:25

What izzy said, and suggest they put up clear signs eg 'staff and disabled drivers only'?

phillipp · 30/09/2016 08:29

Ignore the admin staff, speak to the head so they can advise staff that some parents are allowed to park in there and that's not the way to deal with parents.

Marynary · 30/09/2016 08:29

Did you not tell the admin person that you are a blue badge holder and also have permission?
I suspect that she was being ignorant and would contact the headteacher to clarify the situation.

honkinghaddock · 30/09/2016 08:29

The admin person probably didn't realise you had permission particularly if you are the only parent with person. Ds's former school used to allow parents with a bb or children with sn to park in the school car park but you had to have a permit issued by the school.

TheFlyingFauxPas · 30/09/2016 08:32

You say admin person shouted at your children then came to tell you. Were you not accompanying your children? If this is case maybe admin person thought your children were in danger with all the cars, maybe shouting more in fright (see little girl/bicycle/sweets thief thread). Do you not get out of your car? If you're not getting out does this still mean you're entitled to park there?

Fairylea · 30/09/2016 08:35

Surely this is miscommunication? Sounds like the admin person doesn't realise you have a blue badge and she hasn't been told by anyone else that it's okay for you to park there.

trafalgargal · 30/09/2016 08:47

Was there any reason not to tell the administrator that you have permission from the head ?

SoupDragon · 30/09/2016 08:52

Isn't this a mountain out of a molehill? Just tell the person that you have permission to park there.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 30/09/2016 08:54

The school need to stop the parents who shouldn't park there

Claennister · 30/09/2016 09:03

Why not ask the school to make you some kind of permit, so you can easily demonstrate to any staff who might be unsure that your car is OK, and it's also a clear sign to anyone trying to follow you in that you are authorised and they are not. It stops them saying that your car is the 'thin end of the wedge' that lets everyone else think it's OK too. It's in the school's interests to do that so they don't end up with an avalanche of cars coming through. Big permits work better for this, I once had an A3 size (really!) bright red permit that had to be lifted very ostentatiously into the windscreen every time. Did the job, though.

Do you not get out of your car? If you're not getting out does this still mean you're entitled to park there?

This is a valid point, as blue badge parking rules require you to be at least intending to exit the vehicle. People who take their granny with them and leave her in the car to use her badge for a good parking bay in town are breaking the regulations and are liable for a ticket. Although none of the regulations strictly apply to private parking arrangements, it is reasonable for them to expect that the same rules would apply.

It doesn't mean it isn't still a Reasonable Adjustment if there is no other place to park where your children could make their own way safely into school without you to accompany them, though. If you can park one street away and let the children walk from there - and other parents do this, it's reasonably safe from traffic, you can see them the whole time - then they have no obligation to let you in the car park. They only have the obligation to make a Reasonable Adjustment, it doesn't have to be exactly what you want. But if letting you in the car park is entirely reasonable then they would find it very hard to defend themselves against Equalities Act legislation.

Good luck. I find it hard to get schools to comprehend that disabled parking bays are not for staff, not for deliveries, and particularly that they are not somehow fair game whenever the school is closed but activities are still going on in the buildling. I'm still disabled even in the holidays!

Eliza22 · 30/09/2016 09:04

I had this, years ago with my son's blue badge. You are allowed to use the badge as long as you're not obstructing. ANYWHERE.

Speak to the admin office.

littleducks · 30/09/2016 09:22

Surely the parking anywhere time is for on roads not private land eg. School car park.

At our school there is no parking for parents even those with blue badges. Taxis are allowed in if the are transporting SN children on a council contract but there is no space for them to actually park they just wait blocking cars in while the escort walls children in. Same for council SN transport minibuses.

Parents with blue badges park outside school on double yellow lines.

CotswoldStrife · 30/09/2016 09:30

As the children walk through the car park to get to the school here (or at least down the side of it) no cars are allowed in at drop off and pick up times - the gates are shut.

As a PP mentioned, if you are not with the children it may raise suspicions that you are there simply to drop them off - if one of the reasons that you have been given permission to use the car park is so that you don't have to walk any distance then I'd certainly discuss this with them. Also agree with PPs who have mentioned a 'school' parking permit to make a visible statement that you are meant to be there!

MoreCoffeeNow · 30/09/2016 09:53

If there is only one car park then I'm surprised they allowed you in anyway. Most schools do not allow DCs in the car parks at all for safety reasons. If your DCs were walking in unescorted that wouldn't be considered safe, imo.

Original poster

suchafuss · 30/09/2016 10:31

Thank you for all your replies. I was with the children and had asked them to stand next to the wall/ window so that I could pull out and they would be safe.
The person who told me that I could no longer use the car park was the person who agreed to this originally. I explained that I had a blue badge again and that my disability is invisable. FWIW I had a partial amputation of my foot and also have damage to the nerves (type 1 diabetic for 4p years) this means that I can walk on occasions with no pain but could still be famaging my foot due to lack of sensation.
I have a letter written by the hospital explaining that I need to minimise walking to avoid further amputations.
I have an appointment with the head on Monday and will show her the letter (although i really shouldnt have to as I have already been assessed as needing a blu badge). Of course I could park on double yellow lines, but these spots are full of other parents cars so not really a solution and another reason its not really a solution to have the children meet me at the car as the amount of cars parked all over the place means that its a nightmare to see when crossing the road. I will just have to hope the head is reasonable!

OP posts:

Original poster

suchafuss · 30/09/2016 10:32

*sorry for typo's

OP posts:

MoreCoffeeNow · 30/09/2016 11:07

It's not unreasonable of the school to close the car park to all traffic for the safety of the DCs. Most schools do. However, if they do that they should come to an understanding about what you are to do. A blue badge isn't an entitlement to park in a private car park.

Perhaps you could arrive very early, before the other parents and taxis and then the gate could be closed after you have gone but before taxis and other parents try to drive in.

It does seem as though it's become a real problem but I hope you and the head can work out a compromise.

Mozfan1 · 30/09/2016 11:10

You shouldn't have to go badge-in-hand to this busy body. Ergh what a rude cow. Carry on parking there and tell the head what happened. She needs an attitude transplant.

dillyduck · 30/09/2016 11:13

I had this, years ago with my son's blue badge. You are allowed to use the badge as long as you're not obstructing. ANYWHERE.

Are you sure it is anywhere? On my drive? In your garden? That is private property like a school car park.

akkakk · 30/09/2016 11:23

discrimination is in the unequal application of services / etc. due to inappropriate segmentation of the recipients...

discrimination is not when a service is not offered to anyone - just because someone is disabled doesn't mean they have a right to services not otherwise on offer.

I am not aware of any legislation that requires a school to provide parking of any sort - disabled or otherwise, I am sure that there will be schools in cities which have no parking at all. So no, YABU in querying whether they have a duty under the equality act - their obligations under that will probably extend no further than providing ramp access if needed should you turn up in a wheelchair - they shouldn't discriminate against you in the services they do provide (so access into the building for a parent), but parking is not a service they provide, so there can be no discrimination... in fact there is arguably discrimination in providing you with parking when no other parking is provided ;)

what you can do rather than reaching for the nearest lawyer to see if an act that doesn't apply can be enforced is speak nicely to the head as suggested above - and also talk to the council about whether there is scope for a disabled parking spot nearby... however as above, if there is no parking in the vicinity then there would be no discrimination in not providing a disabled spot and you would need to park where everyone else parks and if you are not able to walk, then a wheelchair is the correct answer...

the school have also been good in trying to help, but are now finding that it is not working for them - just because it works for you, you do not have a right to enforce something that doesn't work for them...

I do appreciate that it is not easy, however it is not easy for the school either - your thoughts are rightly focused on you and your children - they have to consider hundreds of children and parents / their needs / their conflicting demands... and ultimately cars where they shouldn't be is a huge health and safety issue for schools...

Original poster

suchafuss · 30/09/2016 11:42

I can totally see your point Akkakk but I would hope that a school would at least be aware and try to accomodate those who suffer inequality, for whatever reason.
I have no intention of using the services of a lawyer, I am looking for a common sense approach as some other posters have suggested. I feel that this is a knee jerk reaction to the difficulties caused by other parents and their parking. I would honestly love to be able to walk my child to school. Some parents have that option but choose to drive (as is their right of course) and it means that I cannot get parked. I don't think its unreasonable to ask for a little understanding and a committment to tackle those that take advantage rather than penalise the person who actually needs to use that space.

OP posts:

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