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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:
StealthPolarBear · 03/02/2017 07:23

For nt children surely they're no longer needed after about the age of 4 or 5. And if your children have disabilities wouldn't you have a blue badge? Or am I too hopeful?
In which case 12 seems stupidly high age limit.

44PumpLane · 03/02/2017 07:36

No I don't think you should park in the P&C space regardless.
As a mum to newborn twins I have to get a car seat in to both sides of my car, therefore P&C spaces are really valuable. I can't just park further over to one side in a regular parking space as both doors need to open wide. Seeing people without a need use them is hugely frustrating.

As an aside I really wish they had at least some P&C spaces as far away from the shop door as possible- this would stop those who use them out of laziness (I'm not implying that's you OP). As it is, my local Asda doesn't have P&C spaces so I always park right at the back of the huge car park as then I'm pretty much guaranteed no one will be parked near/next to me when I come back out.

Spikeyball · 03/02/2017 07:41

Stealth, you are being too hopeful. I have a wheelchair using ds but no bb till he was 9. Even then it was after a fight.
I agree that a child without additional needs doesn't need the space once they are school age.

JC23 · 03/02/2017 07:44

Maybe ask Aldi what their policy is regarding the P&C spaces. If they're the only ones free I'd be tempted to use them but I wouldn't want to risk confrontation either!

BillyButtfuck · 03/02/2017 07:46

SaucyDough there are huge clear signs - I will take a photo when I go.
Spikey I think the signs say 'without a child under 12 or a blue badge will be fined'

SingingInTheRainstorm · 03/02/2017 07:48

I would park there & if questioned I would say here's my children. I know it's pedantic, I know most of us would never do it, but you'd waited your turn like you said. Although I don't know if it's just our Aldi, if you park in a disabled space without a badge you're liable for £70 fine I think it is.

Original poster
WantedDeadorAlive · 03/02/2017 07:48

I didn't say I actually parked there! As I asked WWYD?

However I this situation I can't see how it's that selfish if I have been waiting 20 mins plus for an available space- everyone is fighting tooth and nail for one! I of course have not forgotten what it is like to have very young children so I do understand the moral side to this.

As for walking- impossible as I I spend around £100 a week in there and live 5 mins away. As for the taxi that defeats the purpose of shopping in Aldi in the first place!

OP posts:
SingingInTheRainstorm · 03/02/2017 07:51

Anyone who says you're unreasonable, if they've got 10 kids under 5, what were you to do, the person behind you would probably have said bugger it I'm parking here. I don't think you're in the wrong, they obviously underestimated how popular the Aldi store would be.

SockswithSandals · 03/02/2017 07:53

Not again. We literally had this thread two days ago!

SingingInTheRainstorm · 03/02/2017 07:53

Plus usually people take their own methods of carrying shopping, a taxi would be a waste and an avenue not open to everyone.

Spikeyball · 03/02/2017 07:54

Billy, even without a bb a fine will not be upheld if using them is a reasonable adjustment.

BillyButtfuck · 03/02/2017 07:58

So OP did you park there?

StealthPolarBear · 03/02/2017 08:05

I suspected that might be the case spike. That's crap.

EpoxyResin · 03/02/2017 08:13

I wouldn't, I'd keep circling the car park until a non-contentious space became available (I dread the shame of being told off frankly!). I don't think the dilemma would last long though, as this thread proves, as doubtless the next car behind me would duck into the P&C space the second I'd crawled past it :D

Sometimes the longest part of a shopping trip to Aldi is the waiting in the car park. It's part and parcel I'm afraid.

Megatherium · 03/02/2017 08:13

If you live 5 minutes away, why on earth don't you walk? You could take a shopping bag on wheels and fit a lot in. It seems insane to drive such a short distance and then spend 20 minutes or more circling the car park.

Monkeyface26 · 03/02/2017 08:13

44PumpLane I absolutely love the idea of an additional bank of P&C parking spaces which are away from the shop. As long as stores had these in addition to the P&C spaces near the shop, it would provide extra options for people for whom the additional space is crucial.
I think we should all start suggesting it.

Scattymere · 03/02/2017 08:18

So many lovely people on here who wouldn't take the space! I have toddler and baby and these spaces make my life so much easier/less stressful getting them out and back into car, so thank you. Have 1 of worlds tiniest cars so buggy won't fit in boot so have to open both passenger doors wide open to get it all out.

JustAnotherPoster00 · 03/02/2017 08:19

As for walking- impossible as I I spend around £100 a week in there and live 5 mins away. As for the taxi that defeats the purpose of shopping in Aldi in the first place!

If you live 5 minutes away, why on earth don't you walk? You could take a shopping bag on wheels and fit a lot in. It seems insane to drive such a short distance and then spend 20 minutes or more circling the car park.

are people just unable to read? Hmm

Scattymere · 03/02/2017 08:20

Agree also that the P&C spaces really don't need to be next to shop at all! That doesn't matter to me at all, just the width of the space and them being available, that's all.

BaileysAddict · 03/02/2017 08:21

The reason they say age 12 is because legally, children are meant to be in a Car Seat until age 12

Underthemoonlight · 03/02/2017 08:23

If I was on my own with my 8year I wouldn't park in them so I would definitely judge a 10year old who isn't in a car seat.I do have a baby and a toddler so I know first hand how hard it is to juggle them it's more annoying that they don't put the appropriate trolleys elsewhere just near the p and c places so I end up struggling with a baby and a toddler until I get to the front of the shop. I do wish they put the spaces further away and the disabled car parking adjacent to the shop then the right people would use them.

OwlinaTree · 03/02/2017 08:32

Coastalcommand

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

Would you really walk to aldi ,do the shopping and walk back? I would never be able to carry a week's worth of shopping in my own, no matter how many back packs etc I had!

OwlinaTree · 03/02/2017 08:37

Lol at an unnecessary taxi when you have a car!

GinIsIn · 03/02/2017 08:41

Curious to know how many of the people saying they would park there are the same people who would also be spitting feathers if they needed the P&C space & it was occupied.... Hmm

No, I wouldn't park there, I would wait for a space. It's hardly likely to be a long wait and for all you know there's a frazzled mother with a newborn and a toddler a car or two behind you who would actually benefit from the spot.

Megatherium · 03/02/2017 08:45

Justanotherposter, as you have noted, OP said she lived 5 minutes away. What is wrong with asking whether she can walk? I appreciate that 5 minutes' drive is not 5 minutes' walk, but by the time you've got the car out, driven there and waited 20 minutes or more for a parking space, you might as well have walked. And you can fit a hell of a lot of shopping into a wheelie bag.

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