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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this entitled of me?

76 replies

Mailfuckoff · 12/08/2018 15:58

I took my dc shopping at Westfield today for a treat as they have a disney shop and a lego shop. Ds needs a wheelchair for shopping as his legs get tired for long distances. We have a bluebadge for him as well. Firstly I couldn't find a disabled spot which meant it's tight getting ds and wheelchair out. Secondly there is no discount for the car park at the weekend which I didn't know so it cost my 9 pounds to park there. Am I being entitled to want wheelchair spaces and a discount on my parking charge as driving to the shopping centre is our only option.

OP posts:

sulflower · 12/08/2018 16:43

I am a bit bemused when people in wheelchairs need close proximity to shop entrances when it makes no difference if they’re in a chair being pushed. I get wider spaces for permanent wheelchair users and close proximity for people walking with rollators or similar but can’t see it’s not possible to park further away and just push the chair.

I take it you have never had to push an adult in a wheelchair day in day out? You obviously have no idea.

DGRossetti · 12/08/2018 16:43

If someone doesn't drive to the shopping centre they'll need to get public transport.

Told you so .....

Neshoma · 12/08/2018 16:44

Our council car parks ares free, but we have to pay in the private ones.

Meadowhall is free for everyone.

DGRossetti · 12/08/2018 16:46

Why presume that people were abusing it and now just that disabled people are less likely to have spare money to spend on parking? It's another cost on top.

Balance of probabilities. Especially as just prior to the charges being introduced for BB holders there was a story in the local paper of a solicitor who had been caught abusing a (his mothers) BB to get free on-street parking. Turned out he'd been doing it for 2 years, and saved about £40,000.

Bombardier25966 · 12/08/2018 16:49

@DGRossetti You make yourself look very ignorant when you selectively edit a quote. I questioned why a disabled person should get reduced price parking because everyone has costs to get to the shopping centre, whether they drive or take public transport.

(And for reference, I am disabled. I don't expect reduced cost parking when going by car often costs less than public transport.)

Sleepyblueocean · 12/08/2018 16:50

Bombardier25966 because the same trip usually takes longer if a person is disabled.

Boyskeepswinging · 12/08/2018 16:52

The car park at Westfield is HUUUUGE and there are many areas offering BB parking - did OP drive round the whole car park and find every single BB space full?

A tip is that if you pre-register for Smart Parking it's only £6 a day, which I think is bloody good value for London parking. And you don't have to fanny around queuing to pay on your way out.

Amanduh · 12/08/2018 16:53

Ignore the signs, it probably was because they weren’t open yet. I hope you had a lovely day despite the parking!

DGRossetti · 12/08/2018 16:57

All I will say is that these very forums are full of stories where people with wheelchairs have not been able to use public transport at all.

Even if they could afford it.

My point was not about costs. It was about possibilities.

KickAssAngel · 12/08/2018 17:04

A newly-built big parking structure could easily have an area with a barrier that scanned a BB to let people in.

OR - we could invent a magi-park thingy. Anyone using a BB place without the need for it, just has their car automatically beamed to somewhere else in the car park. No way for them to track it, they just need to walk around the entire car park until they find their car. Let them really enjoy the use of their legs.

LeftRightCentre · 12/08/2018 17:04

YANBU

YouCanCallMeNancy · 12/08/2018 17:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DGRossetti · 12/08/2018 17:09

A newly-built big parking structure could easily have an area with a barrier that scanned a BB to let people in.

Costs money. No good capitalist spends money unless they are (a) guaranteed a return, or (b) there are legal/regulatory or publicity costs that exceed the cost of provision.

There are ways to provide BB parking with no additional cost. I've seen them in the UK. But they are so rare as to be considered either a mistake, or an accident.

runningkeenster · 12/08/2018 17:10

Some councils charge for the disabled bays but you get longer if you display your blue badge. So for example, if you've paid £2 for 2 hours, you'll get 3. Seems like a good compromise.

It seems very odd that all the disabled bays were already taken at that time of day. Was it a mistake? I've never actually seen a display that split it out, it usually just says there are y spaces left, without saying how many spaces there are for blue badge holders.

Amanduh · 12/08/2018 17:16

I think it def was a mistake. The carpark was virtually empty. They have over 275 disabled spaces and free mobility scooter or wheelchair hire. I think
OP read the ‘available spaces 0 0 0 0’ sign

dadshere · 12/08/2018 17:20

Entitled for wanting wheelchair access, absolutely not, sorry that you had to struggle with this. However, you maybe are a little entitled for wanting a discount.

MadMags · 12/08/2018 17:25

@Mailfuckoff I think it's likelier that you missed some of the parking, or that there was an issue with the sign, than that every single BB space was taken a half hour before the shops opened.

I don't think you should get a discount on parking spaces. What about elderly people living on a pittance pension? What about someone on benefits? Etc. etc. There are plenty of groups in society that could benefit from a reduction in parking costs.

And given that going to a shopping centre isn't a necessity for anyone, ever, it doesn't seem feasible or even fair to offer some people discounts and not others, IYSWIM.

shakeyourcaboose · 12/08/2018 17:27

dgrosetti completely out off piste here, but confused by your post re accessing the BB section of the car park! How else would the cars get in other than through the entrance with the other cars?!

BlueberryPud · 12/08/2018 17:28

am a bit bemused when people in wheelchairs need close proximity to shop entrances when it makes no difference if they’re in a chair being pushed

Bloody hell, have you ever tried pushing a wheelchair for a few hours? Do it and then report back.

shakeyourcaboose · 12/08/2018 17:31

My comments not made in GF way, genuinely interested! I hate multi stories so never use, so trying to picture!

zeeboo · 12/08/2018 17:33

Why would you expect the parking to be reduced? I'm a disabled adult and I've never found parking is cheaper for me and nor should it be. That IS entitled especially as it isn't a case of your son being on a low income due to disability, he's a child and you, the non disabled adult are paying.
The lack of spaces frustrates the hell out of me everywhere we go so on that YANBU

Pyracantha1 · 12/08/2018 17:35

If you are talking about the white city Westfield shopping centre then there are always plenty of disabled parking, on every floor and on every side. If one floor or side is busy then you should try other floors. Every lift Lobby has disabled parking right outside.

I'm not trying to be mean as I can imagine how frustrating this must have been for you.

SillySallySingsSongs · 12/08/2018 17:37

YANBU about spaces but YABU about not wanting to pay.

DGRossetti · 12/08/2018 17:38

dgrosetti completely out off piste here, but confused by your post re accessing the BB section of the car park! How else would the cars get in other than through the entrance with the other cars?!

There could be a "BB parking only" entrance ? They manage to get staff vehicles and delivery vehicles in by other entrances.

All I know it last time we parked in Touchwood we had to wait in a line of cars, because they were only allowing one car in, when one car left. When we (finally) got in, and down to the disabled parking floor, it was almost empty even though the "regular" car park was full. I inquired if we had somehow made a mistake, and gotten into the wrong queue but was told no. All cars have to queue, and if the the car park is full, tough. Even if there are over 40 BB spaces free (which there were).

The irony is, I've seen car parks where the BB spaces are right at the end of the journey around the car park, but cleverly right in front of the store, where the security station overlooks them.

sprinklesandsauce · 12/08/2018 17:44

YANBU about wanting more spaces, but YABU and entitled about not wanting to pay to park. Everybody has to pay to park, so I do not agree that disabled people should get it for free.

It is a great bonus if it is, my mum has a BB and we saved £18 on hotel parking on holiday last week because BB's were free, but we never expect it.

It is also good when given an hour free, a local town has a 2 hour short stay car park, but BB's get 3 hours, so they acknowledge that some people need more time. Some supermarkets allow extra time for BB's too.

But generally, I do think that charges should apply to all. A BB is worth its weight in gold to my mum. It means that she can keep her independence because she can generally park close to the shops and park in spaces wide enough to get out of the car. She is still happy to pay for parking though as she did before she had a BB.

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