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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another P&C parking one 😉

75 replies

WantedDeadorAlive · 02/02/2017 23:46

The other P &Cparking thread reminded me to ask my WWYD question!

Our local Aldi is as expected very very popular and therefore very busy at evenings and weekends. Problem is that the car park is tiny- parks around 40 cars. All local roads have restrictions so that's not an option.

So getting back to my WWYD- after circling the car park numerous times waiting for a space to become available.... would you park in a p & c space if it was the only space that became available? This has happened to me before but my children are 10+ and I wouldn't normally park in one however, I have waited my turn like everyone else- possibly longer if they luckily found a space before me. There is no legal reason not to park in them but I agree there is a moral one!

WWYD in this situation?

OP posts:
AlmostAJillSandwich · 02/02/2017 23:54

I'd park. I'm disabled (but dont qualify for badge as mental not physical) and get maybe an hour once or twice a week i can actually leave the house. My dad parks wherever he can, and as i do have problems with long walks as an unrelated but still not blue badge qualifying health issue we use P & C so we're near the shop.

FireInTheHead · 02/02/2017 23:57

Yes I'd park there if there were no other spaces available, the p & c spaces are a courtesy not a necessity unlike disabled spaces.

BillyButtfuck · 02/02/2017 23:58

Our local Sainsbury's has just put in enforcement notices of £60 fines for anyone parking in them without being accompanied by a child under 12. So I guess you fall under that.
They have patrols paid for by the tickets and any profit goes to a local children's hospice.

I only ever parked in P&C spaces without a child when I was heavily pregnant with twins and needed the room.

IMissGrannyW · 03/02/2017 00:01

You are morally wrong, but we'd all do it too. When my DD was a tiny tot, the P&C spaces were necessary for me (because it was a proper challenge to get her in or out of car) Later they were a luxury, but I still used them. I don't any more. If you don't need them, then you're unkind to people who would really benefit, and the fact that other people use and abuse doesn't absolve you.

But you know that.

Coastalcommand · 03/02/2017 00:06

I'd've just waited until there was a space or not taken the car,

AuditAngel · 03/02/2017 00:06

Parent and child spaces for children up to 12? My youngest is 6 and I don't use them (in Tesco where plenty of paces)

BillyButtfuck · 03/02/2017 00:07

To be fair I would say having to get two under 1s out the car I need P&C sized spaces in some places.
My local shopping centre has really tight spaces and I'd never get both car seats in and out in their regular spaces. So there I would probably judge someone getting out with a 10 year old.
Supermarkets tend to have larger spaces and I can manage so the P&C spaces there are more of a convenience and do make it easier but I happily go without if necessary and wouldn't look twice at you.

BillyButtfuck · 03/02/2017 00:08

Audit yeah I was a bit Hmm at 12years of age being the limit - that's secondary school for goodness sake Grin but I suppose they have to set a limit somewhere.

PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2017 00:09

I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to get a ticket.

Anyone with a bb/mobility problems in my view is absolutely fine to use them.

PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2017 00:10

It's children under 8 in my local Sainsbury's.

lozzylizzy · 03/02/2017 00:15

I tend to stop using them when my kids are 4 when they can get in their own seat.

7SunshineSeven7 · 03/02/2017 00:23

Park there, they're a courtesy has PP have pointed out, not a right.

TooSmittle · 03/02/2017 00:24

I wouldn't dare because I'm a right wet lettuce and couldn't cope with potentially being shouted at by an irate parent! I'd probably just drive slowly behind the next person to leave the shop and wait for them to leave their space.

I don't think you'd be wrong to do it though, but if you're not in a desperate rush it would probably be kinder to wait it out and leave the space free for someone who needs the extra room more.

GabsAlot · 03/02/2017 00:30

no and i never have-just laziness

TarragonChicken · 03/02/2017 00:40

enforcement notices of £60 fines

I'm curious about this: do you have to pay them? At my previous workplace, received wisdom was that if security fined you for parking without a staff permit, you could refuse to pay and it wouldn't be enforceable.

I wouldn't park there, personally, but I can see why you'd be tempted.

SansComic · 03/02/2017 06:28

AlmostAJillSandwich

Well, you shouldn't. You're depriving people of those spaces who may need them.

OP

No. You should carry on waiting. I would.

TaliDiNozzo · 03/02/2017 06:36

Yes I would park there. Someone will come on and ask whether you would do the same if the only space was a disabled one but the situation is not comparable and of course people wouldn't do that.

AristotlesTrousers · 03/02/2017 06:38

I wouldn't, no.

SaucyDough · 03/02/2017 06:39

I'm curious about this: do you have to pay them? At my previous workplace, received wisdom was that if security fined you for parking without a staff permit, you could refuse to pay and it wouldn't be enforceable.

If there were clear signs, you have to pay for breach of contract.

Spikeyball · 03/02/2017 06:42

The fines are certainly not automatically enforceable. If someone has a disability where a reasonable adjustment is using them, the fine would never hold in court.
On saying that, I wouldn't park in them on my own unless it was late evening when all the small children should be in bed.

BigGreenOlives · 03/02/2017 06:44

I think I'd go to another supermarket or try a less popular time. I couldn't face going into a supermarket if I'd spent 20 minutes in the car park, I'd be in too bad a mood.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 03/02/2017 06:49

It's 12 because that is when they legally no longer need a car seat even if they are under 135cm. I have only used them once since dc started school and that was with a very ill child trying to fill a prescription (a whole other thread). Ended up squeezing him into a trolley so could have parked anywhere but when I parked I thought he could walk that far. Normally no I wouldn't use them because I know how much it means to find a space like that when you have a baby and a toddler and you haven't slept properly for weeks.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2017 07:15

after circling the car park numerous times waiting for a space to become available.... would you park in a p & c space if it was the only space that became available?

No, because I'm not a selfish arse.

Legally enforceable or not, they are there to help people who need the wider space.

I sometimes park I never a side street a 5 minute walk from Aldi as the car park is small. Big over the shoulder shopping bag plus at least one cotton bag in each hand. If you have children with you it's even easier.

I was pondering how lazy we have all become (and I have fully include myself in this!!) I remember walking to the hilly high street of my childhood town to do the weekly shop. Now I bet everyone, me included, would drive there.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2017 07:17

It's 12 because that is when they legally no longer need a car seat

It's not, there is no set age. Once they can fasten their own seatbelt, so in a booster seat, there is no need to park in them

ForalltheSaints · 03/02/2017 07:18

Walk there and take a taxi back?