A parking one! Blue badge dilemma

[BluebadgeCF]

Short version: my new neighbours are CF and are trying to steal a visitor parking space because they have a blue badge, they are not the only blue badge holders in the block of flats, and are behaving unreasonably.

long story: no diagram as I am sat in the car waiting for DSs sporting activity to end.

I live in a small block of flats, ten in total built 20 ish years ago, all are either privately rented or owned. They are all 2 bedrooms and there is a private carpark accessible via a gated entry you need a fob to get into.

Every flat has 1 allocated parking space and there are 4 visitor spaces at the very furthest end of the car park. One of the spaces used to have a disabled symbol on it, but is the same size as all the other spaces and is the furthest parking spot from the entrance of the car park and not the most accessible. There is no other signage indicating it’s a disabled spot and you would only know it “used” to be the designated spot if you had lived here a long time, it’s not on the deeds etc.

I don’t have a blue badge, a couple of my relatives do and a couple of the existing residents do. Even though people who live in the flats have blue badges nobody uses the parking spot as it literally the worst spot in the whole car park, it also next to the hedges which need cutting back, it’s also at an odd angle and normally really tight to get in, with the hedges making it worse.

We have new neighbours, a family of 5 plus two dogs - yes in a two bedroom flat - they also have two cars and one of the residents, not sure who, also has a blue badge. I have noticed the “disabled” space has been occupied recently - it’s usually empty cos it’s a horrible space as mentioned above.

I had a relative with a blue badge visit this week and I moved my car into the “disabled” parking spot for a couple of days, as it was the only one free and I had a legitimate reason to be there, despite I don’t believe it being a legally enforced disabled parking space. This was so my relative who needs mobility aids could use my spot, which is easier to drive into and doesn’t have a whopping hedge growing into it, making it easier for her to get out of the car.

New neighbours are pissed! Apparently they have rung their landlord and the estate agent has been round knocking on everyone’s doors (me and relative have been out in her car so missed this) because new neighbours have a blue badge and must be able to use the car parking space at all times.

One of my elderly neighbours spoke to me about this and is very worried I am going to get in trouble. IMO though the new neighbours are just trying to get a second parking space for free, by claiming sole use of the “disabled” visitor space, like they are the only people in the world who own a blue badge. When in reality what they want to do is be able to park both of their cars in the secure parking area, rather like the rest of us who either have two cars of visitors park on the ample street parking (it’s a village not a city). My neighbour who is worried is also a blue badge holder, but parks in his allocated space.

AIBU to keep parking there or letting my visitors who have blue badges!?

It’s a visitor space, it’s on private land, no signage to say it’s disabled anyway so I could technically park there even if I wasnt doing so to for a blue badge holder, the new neighbours simply have to use there one allocated spot and not occupy a visitor space permanently.

The disabled spot will be maek on the deeds and the landlord (assuming they haven't bought the flat) will have told them that its the disabled bay.
You really shouldn't park in a disabled bay

Read the OP and you will see it says it’s not in the deeds.

Is the parking space a disabled designated spot or not?
Is this parking space designated for visitors only?

No, there is the remnants of some markings that where put down in white paint 24 years ago. It is genuinely not an adapted space as it is the same
size as all the others, you would actually be worse off parking there if you need extra space to get in and out of your vehicle as the bloody hedge is growing into it. Hence why I parked there and not my relative.

I don't think residents should ever be allowed to put their own cars in the 4 visitor bays, whether or not they are disabled and whether or not they also have a visitor coming. Amy vehicle belonging to a resident of the development should be banned from the visitor spots, or they stop being visitor spots and just become first-come-first-served spots for households with more than one vehicle. OP you shouldn't have put your car in the visitor spot to free up your allocated space for your visitor, you should have parked somewhere else on public land or paid for a P&D space somewhere. Your BB neighbours also should not use that space, their BB family member can use their flat's allocated space and other cars park elsewhere. You are all being unreasonable. Visitors spaces should solely be for visitors.

Yes but if I’ve understood correctly you parked there to allow your visitor to park in your space as it’s more convenient, so you can’t then take up what may or may not be a disabled space as well ! Which car had the blue badge in it, it should’ve been in the one your visitor was actually using ie your easier space!
Anyway, find out if it’s definitely a blue badge space or not, if it is, don’t park in it, if it isn’t , no problem!

This logic is awful, you shouldn’t have parked there, and try not to spout such rubbish in the future. Your parking there was not the right thing to do and there is no way you can argue it is without sounding like an entitled numpty.

you can email the agent saying I’ve heard there’s some heated discussion about the spot <describe it>. Could you please confirm if it’s a regular visitor spot or a blue badge spot? Either way you have to explain to the neighbours at <their apartment number> that it’s not theirs- if it’s a regular visitor spot then it’s available for all visitors, and if it’s a blue badge spot then it’s available for all blue badge residents and all blue badge visitors. There are several blue badge residents as you probably know and many of us have regular visitors who have blue badges, myself included.

I look forward to hearing from you.

what does the lease/house rules say?

where we used to live sounds like a similar set up.
lease said that householders must not park in the visitor spaces at all and that they are limited to daytime only.

Its obvious OP that yours and the estate agents opinion differ, on whether its a designated disabled space or not. Therefore, the family that has moved in have probably been misinformed by the EA.
But, that said you sound as though you don't like them anyway, are they renting and you're a home owner? You sound very much as though you are looking down on them, then this gift fell into your lap, so you went rabble rousing to the neighbours.

OP check the property planning information pr contact the council to find out if it is a disabled space. If it is ask them or the landlords to remark the space. However this doesnt mean exclusive use for this family of the disabled space unless it belongs to the flat itself. If its a disabled visitor parking space is free for any visitor with a disability badge to use. A visitor space is just that and will never be fpr exclusive use of one family

It really is. I’m so glad they’ve begun teaching reading comprehension again, in primary schools.

Is this your Sunday fun, commenting nothing about the actual dilemma, but wanging on for people to read the OP. This is a one sided opinion of a nuanced situation, critical thinking skills, comprehension and realising the unreliable narrative are also quite useful in literacy! Other posters are trying to illicit the answers that are not provided, and challenging the ones that are through questioning, Its MN! And there is an entire corner for pedants.

In her opinion… she hasn’t checked…

That’s a lot of word salad to try and justify you not having read the OP correctly….🤭

Let your relation park in your designated spot and put your car in the disabled bay with the blue badge in it. They don't have a registration number on.

I 100% agree with this and next time a I have guests I probably will just park ok the main road directly outside the flat. My boyfriend who stays regularly does this, he doesn’t use the visitor spots, I think I only did this time due to visitor having mobility aids.

I would say that you were right to move your car for your visiting relative, but should have parked out on the road. You aren't a visitor, so shouldn't use a visitor spot, even if there is a visitor using your spot. The paint being faded doesn't stop the space being a disabled bay. The fact that the hedge is overgrown and the space isn't big is irrelevant.

Yes and the person who owned the badge wasn't getting in or out, or having use of your car parked in the disabled bay. You should have parked elsewhere.

As much as you claim it's no longer a disabled space anyway, clearly your neighbours have been told otherwise. Just because the markings have worn off or you think it's a stupid place to have it, it doesn't mean it's no longer a designated disabled bay.

Really? How do you conclude that from anything I've posted? I'll wait......🤔

In these circumstances I’d have let the visitors get out of the car in a convenient place and then driven their car with the Blue badge into the ‘disabled/ visitor’ parking bay. Then I’d have sucked up the inconvenience again and driven it in and out for them if the space is unsuitable for their specific needs. the tenants obviously know which is your car so yours being in that bay probably got their back up, regardless of your reasoning.

either way I don’t think tenants can just use a visitor allocated bay as their normal space just because they have a blue badge. They should use their allocated space for the blue badge and let the non disabled person do whatever everyone else does.

Dont make this about your visitor
You took umbridge to them parking there
You really chose the most awkward of the visitor spaces despite knowing they preferred parking there?

If your relative can’t physically manage in the BB bay then park your car elsewhere🤷‍♀️ until you have needed to use BB bays due to actual disability you have no idea just how hard life is and every little thing like this tips you over the edge

It’s not marked as a disabled spot so use it

Your only argument that it's not a disabled space is that the signage has faded. Which probably means that it is still a disabled space, just not a well-marked one. So, given that you parked there yourself instead of leaving it for your blue-badged relative, means I think you're in the wrong.

If its not marked as a disabled space then it isn't one. Don't they have their own allocated space anyway.