To think this is utterly unreasonable... pic included

[ScottishJo31]

Just seen this on my local town Facebook group.....I can’t believe that someone would confront someone with a blue badge for parking in a p&c space.....especially as it’s massive carpark and there were loads of spaces...! [pic edited out by MNHQ - OP do feel free to repost having obscured the number plate below]

There's spaces either side of that car,imagine getting all get up because according to them someone parked in the wrong place

P&C spaces are not a legal requirement, whereas Blue Badge are. I have had a blue badge for years. Its always been a given that disabled needs trump mother and child. In the early days of having a blue badge, if disabled spaces were full, security or shop management would say you can always park in M&C, as they are only provided as a goodwill gesture and are not mandatory. I think that clears the matter up sensibly and kindly.

I've had a badge for the 12 years or so, it's only been in the last 3 years or so people have questioned or looked suspiciously or shouted abuse at me for using it. I wonder why?

Urgh! Bloody p&c spaces should be banned.

We had 6 children under 10 and the biggest car on the market at that time and at no point did we need special parking spaces.

Being a parent is not a disability. These spaces are gimmick 1st introduced by Sainsbury's to encourage people to use their store over others, people are being conned and it's pathetic.

These spaces (unlike disabled spaces) are not legally enforceable and anyone can park in them.

How insecure do you need to be to need a special parking space to make you feel important because that's what this amounts to.

Some folks have WAY too much time on their hands.

@lyralalala

I totally agree with that! Parking spaces in general are getting smaller.

When we were at Disney World recently we were given two parking spaces by the parking CMs because we were driving our 1 ton pickup (trailer tow vehicle). There was no way we could have parked in one space and had room for doors to be opened, either ours or a car parked next to us. Of course Disney lots are HUUUGE so it wasn't like someone wasn't going to have a place to park if we had two spaces.

Personally I'd rather some behemoth vehicle (Hummers I'm looking at you) take two spaces rather one since taking one usually means no one parks either side of them for fear of getting dented or not being able to get out so 3 spaces get used!

Our local shopping centre has disabled/parent child spaces combined so either can use them, don’t know why this isn’t done in more places really?!

Ugh. Just ugh.

There are many misconceptions about having a B.B. (I do) you should be old, in a wheelchair, drive a very cheap sensible car or better still a minivan (with ramp). If you don’t fit into any of those stereotypes your fair game for the general public to judge you and decide weather you need your badge or not. I have lost count of times people have sidled up to my car to look at my badge or felt the need to tell me I’ve just parked in a disabled bay! I was still in process of parking once in Brighton when a man came and banged on my window to tell me I was about to leave my car in a disabled bay

The vile idiot who posted that is in good company by the looks of the comments. I'm genuinely taken aback that people actually think like this!

I manage fine without p&c spaces, so many car parks don't even have them so how can people be so reliant on them?

We have a fixed in car seat for DD and I've always managed fine transporting her around. Why do so many people carry their babies around in a car seat constantly, and then moan when they can't fit it in the car?

Our local shopping centre has disabled/parent child spaces combined so either can use them, don’t know why this isn’t done in more places really?!

Because it's disgusting. And if you think that being a parent/having a disability are interchangeable so are you.

Makes me really sad, and I'm gonna say it, the amount of disablism aimed at younger disabled people by, especially, the "older" generation.

Having been in a wheelchair since 30, 11 years now, I've even had the comments I'm "playing the system" to get a "free" car. I bloody wish it was free,

People, generally, can be utterly ignorant of disability and the challenges it provides, with a minority taking it to active persecution.

Our local shopping centre has disabled/parent child spaces combined so either can use them, don’t know why this isn’t done in more places really?!

Unless there are separate disabled spaces seems a really stupid idea.

I understand they have to put the machines somewhere usually near the front but its just an excuse for people to just park up regardless because theyre only going to be a minute-bad planning there

@Judashascomeintosomemoney quite a few of our local car parks state fines will be given if your child isn't under 12 or the female isn't pregnant. I think it must be private car parks 😊

Whilst I would never confront a blue badge holder over a parent and child space (they have every right to park there) I do get annoyed when people who do not have small children use them. It’s inconsiderate and selfish. I have reported people to the supermarket staff for doing so.

Really hope hinely is joking.

It's no wonder parents have little time for blue badgers taking the very limited parent and child parking spaces (usually far fewer than disabled spaces) with blue badges being handed out like sweets these days.

From gov.uk.

1. People who automatically qualify for a badge:

A person is automatically eligible for a badge if they are over two years old and meet at least one of the following criteria: a receives the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance; b receives a Personal Independence Payment for being unable to walk further than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component); c is registered blind (severely sight impaired); d receives a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement; or e has received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and has been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

Sweets, huh?

If I see a blue badger parking in a parent and child park I'd park behind them and they could wait til i had finished my shopping. They are perfectly capable of waiting for a disabled space to become available like everyone else has to with their respective parking spaces.

You're one of the minority I alluded to in my pp, clearly.

I now wear headphones and keep my head down if I go shopping, so I don’t really hear anything anyone may say before I get my sticks out and even then it doesn’t always stop people. It is rubbish having pointed looks or comments that people feel they have the right to say.

I’m lucky though, at our Asda the BB spaces are at the front and P&C are over the road and there is quite a lot of both.

Honestly though, as others have said, it can be really soul destroying to be questioned on this and it does put me of going out at times.

I always wonder how anyone could really be so ignorant - then hinely demonstrates

P&c spaces are definitely easier but not vital in anyway, my car is fairly wide but agree the increase in 4x4s is an issue.

Why on earth does anyone get the car sewr out though? The ones they have at lidl that you can clip the car seat on top of make it impossible to steer and if you put the seat in the trolley there's no space for shopping.

The closest sainsburys to me doesnt have baby seats so i drive further to another one/use a sling. When i use the big yellow self storage trolleys i push the trolleys and drag a stroller behind me.

I agree BB trump PC rights at all times.

Bit of a tangent, but I'm in Canada and could get a BB, but haven't. I have an intermittent disability and don't go out much when symptomatic as parking close to a store wouldn't help with energy to get through the store. If I had one, I wouldn't use it when asymptomatic and capable of walking.

I'm fully aware of invisible disabilities, but my kids belong to a large sports club and I regularly see certain parents park in disabled spots, displaying a BB - they then heft a heavy bag & run, going up several sets of stairs with ease. I know some are using relatives' BBs, but no one checks. Others, I wonder if the badges are for sale on ebay/Wechat. If you're capable enough to haul heavy items and run up stairs, leave the spots for those who need them. This is at a lot where it's difficult to find a spot at all, and there are quite a few BB spots as there are lots of w/c athletes.

You can’t reason with thick.

Balls to it. I’ve got a small SUV but our local supermarket spaces are about big enough for a Toyota Aygo or Suzuki Swift. My car is just too wide (though no wider than a standard people carrier). There are a ton of disabled bays (which are always mostly empty and I wouldn’t use) and even more P&C spaces that you can shake a stick at (again mostly empty). Had a similar situ where I parked in the P&C (so I could actually get in/out of said motor), had some woman whinge at me. Told her to jog on - I had a child seat in the back, so that’ll do.

Simply Steve "People, generally, can be utterly ignorant of disability and the challenges it provides, with a minority taking it to active persecution."

It's awful that people would even consider doing that, particularly when you're in a wheelchair. I'm so sorry you have to put up with that sort of treatment, it's beyond disgusting.

People like that with the IQ of an amoeba don't even realise that some people who have a BB aren't in wheelchairs as not all disabilities are visible.

We've been really lucky, never challenged - so far, touch wood - in the 10 or so years Dd has had her BB. She'd be in a million pieces and not know what to say if someone had a go at her. She doesn't drive, I do so I would be there if anyone did.