Lidl Car Park

[spaced]

A lady parked in a disabled parking spot. She had not disabled badge. I approached and told her that she was taking up a space that would be needed for someone with a disability. In a foreign voice she replied and said she would only be a few minutes.

I took photos. Who shall I send them to? Police? Lidl Head Office? Local Council?

The total disregard of this lady was amazing, she did not give a crap!

[Ethel]

Let it go. Nothing will be done - and nothing can be done unless Lidl have the proper signs stating that drivers that park in those spaces without displaying the blue badge will be fined or otherwise punished.

The local council nor the police will be interested as it is private land. Lidl won't be interested because they won't want to fine their own customer.

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I cant let it go. I work with children and adults with physical and learning discbilities and its effin idiots like that that are allowed to get away with it.

[Ethel]

But as I said - there is absolutely nothing you can do.

I know it is infuriating, having a blue badge myself and coming across this time and time again.

But life is too short to live it in a futile rage.

[weeal]

Ethel is right, you will just make yourself more angry in the process and achieve nothing

[druskininkai]

Have you honestly nothing better to do than moan about something so unimportant?

[bednobs]

nothing will happen no matter who you send them to except you'll get more and more frustrated!. How would lidl get the lady' details?
police and local council dont enforce ruules in a private (lidls) car park so they honestly will have better things to do and not care.
Its a bummer but there you go!
disabled spaces are only put there as a courtesy by the shop anyway (unless it's a public car park) and they could take them away tomorrow if they were so minded

[Whickerman]

next time accidentaly key the paintwork.

[weeal]

oh Whickerman that is an evil suggestion

[spaced]

funny you say that whickerman, it did cross my mind, unfortunately she was too close to the entrance and in plain view of everyone.

druskininka - your a nob, shutup. Wouldnt like it if a member of YOUR family was disabled and couldnt find anywhere to park. I wouldnt be suprised if the lady I spoke to was your mum, she seemed like a woman with an idiot for a child.

Newbies....always trying to prove something

[THECORBYLOON]

If she was foreign, can you be certain she understood what the space was for?

[Louisa 69]

Kujawski spaced did mention that he did approach her and spoke to her. It isn't right that people park in disabled spaces. In most supermarkets there is not that many disabled parking places i have heard of many disabled people having to park in the normal car park because of small minded and lazy people taking up the disabled spaces. it wouldn't be that if your car was damaged because someone had to open their door wide enough to access their wheelchair.Disabled parking spaces are there for a reason...

[VillageVicar]

I share in your frustration. I often transport a friend who is suffering from aggressive multiple sclerosis. At our local supermarket, the disabled parking spaces are right next to the cash points. You can�t imagine the number of people who pull up, park there, get cash, then run into the store (it�s always going to be quick!).

It is virtually impossible for me to get my friend out of the van anywhere other than there. So when I see cars that have taken the space, I park the van directly behind them, get out, check to ensure there is no disabled badge (and if there is I make a close check to ensure it�s not a photo-copy), I write down the registration number and make of the vehicle and then we wait. My friend is accustomed to waiting long periods of time thanks to the inconsiderate behaviour of those people who feel their time and authority is more valuable than anyone else�s.

When the culprit arrives I begin to open the back of the van and lower the wheelchair ramp. In all honesty, it can take me a good five-ten minutes to get her wheelchair unhooked from the safety clasps, the wheel ramp down, and her chair navigated back safely. Without fail�Without fail, these people have the cheek to tell us that they need to back out.

Continued:

[VillageVicar]

Part 2

My friend loves to do the replying. We�ve had to do this so often it is absurd. She tells the person that we�re just going in the store to get something quickly and we�ll be right back.

Some become nasty. I don�t mind. She certainly doesn�t mind. In fact, I�ve had to phone the police when one of the silly beans threatened my friend.. I was at a real loss as to why the threat wasn�t towards me. But he threatened to take her chair and ram her back into the van himself.

I am delighted to say that not only are our local police supportive, the fine they issue to those who take the disabled parking spaces are actually higher than typical parking violations. And best of all, the culprit ends up in our local newspaper!

I share this because whilst I agree with Ethel and others, it is an important issue for you to raise with your local paper. There is nothing wrong with the paper stating something along the lines of � the owner of the P registered gold coloured Citroen Xantia said she�d be right back.� Sadly, it�s the closest they can come to naming and shaming. And I don�t know if it�s of any value, but in my glove box is a cheap disposable camera. Many years ago a friend of mine who is a PC suggested that there is good insurance in having one at all times. And indeed, it has come in handy in the past.

Despicable is the word I�ll use for those who refuse to abide by our laws as well as the law of common decency and believe they are above the rest of us.

I wish you well

Fr. Bill

[xanderma]

villagevicar, I know this thread is nothing to do with me (except I too cant stand abuse of disabled and parent/child spaces) - but just I have to say, I like your style! A shame that you have to resort to these actions, but I'd love to see more people like you around. Well done!!

[Ethel]

VillageVicar - I know for a fact that the police CAN NOT issue fixed penalties or any other sort of penalties for vehicles parked in supermarket car parks or council car parks.

They do not have the jurisdiction.

[THECORBYLOON]

VV whilst I agree it is wrong for folk to use the disabled spaces if they are not disabled, I�m a wee bit confused. You write �It is virtually impossible for me to get my friend out of the van anywhere other than (the disabled space.� and you park the van behind the car. If you are able to start preparing to get yir pal out the van when the offending driver returns after a long period of time, why could you not do it sooner? I know you are trying to make a point but by parking behind the offending driver, are you not also causing a hazard? Two wrongs do not make a right.