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Blue Badge Rant

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Georgesgran Fri 10-Sept-21 11:54:41

Hoping GNs can give me their opinions on this - will probably have to take cover behind the sofa!
Last week DD2, a full-time wheelchair user, her baby and I visited Tynemouth to use a beach front restaurant - accessed down a very steep road, too difficult to negotiate in a wheelchair, but at the bottom are 5 wide disabled bays. When we arrived they were all taken - one by an elderly couple who sat staring at the sea, drinking from a flask. Another car (blue badge) arrived and reversed into a space clearly marked for the RNLI only and also just watched the sea!
Eventually, one of the other badge holders returned and we got her space, so we were able to get to the restaurant. The occupants of the first car watched us intently as I unloaded DD's and Baby's paraphernalia.
The occupants of both other cars (yes, badge holders) didn't get out of their vehicles at all, or use the restaurant facilities and both left at the same time we did.
AIBU in thinking that they could and should have used one of the ordinary spaces to watch the sea, or any of the other vantage points - even parking on double yellow lines with their badges - and left the spaces near the beach for those who actually want to get out of their cars and do something? We hear constantly and are rightly angry when able bodied people take up Blue Badge spaces, but what about Blue Badge holders themselves, who take up a space they don't actually need? DD2 is now parking in a wide Parent and Child space, to free up a disabled bay where available.

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Teacheranne Sun 12-Sept-21 19:17:03

Cabbie21

The gov.uk website says you should not use the blue badge to enable others to benefit whilst you sit in the car.
Surely that is another way of saying you should get out of the car?
Of course in the case under discussion, the couple drinking tea may have just got back from a walk, but I do think the OP has a point. Glad she did eventually get a parking space.

My DH has not applied for a Blue badge but would benefit from one as he cannot walk far because of back pain and angina. When we go to National Trust and similar places, there is often a long wAy to walk from the car to the house, even sometimes from the disabled car park.

Very true about some NT places, I can only visit if there is a buggy from the car park to the main area. Luckily two near me do have the carts.

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