'It makes me furious' - Mums and dads call for strict controls on shoppers stealing parent parking bays

Calls for stronger punishment for supermarket shoppers using parent and child bays as parents say 'it's a joke'
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Local parents are calling for stronger measures for shoppers who use designated parent and child bays when they don't have a child with them.

Many parents have admitted that they struggle to find one of the spaces vacant when visiting busy car parks, such as those at supermarkets. Those with young children say they have on occasion been forced to park in standard sized parking bays due to all the designated spaces being taken up.

As a result they are faced difficulty due to the standard parking spaces being too narrow to get infants in a car seat out with ease. A standard-size parking bay is 4.8 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, leaving only 30cm to exit a car, which for those using car seats with small babies, is roughly 17cm too small.

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'Parent and child' parking bays not only have the benefit of being located closer to building entrances, they offer an average of 120cm extra space between bays, giving parents a total of 150cm of room to park and get in and out of their vehicle safely.

The general consensus seems to be that it is the size of the parking bay that is the issue and not the fact they are closer to the store.

Rules dictate that the designated bays are for the use of parents and guardians who are taking a child under the age of 12 into the shop with them.

Many parents say they struggle find a vacant designated space as a result of motorists breaking the car parking rules
Many parents say they struggle find a vacant designated space as a result of motorists breaking the car parking rules

However, it seems a shocking number of motorists are abusing the measures in place by parking in one without having a child with them at all, which in turn is making life extremely difficult for those who do need to use them.

We were curious to see how frequently shoppers would flaunt these rules. So we spent an hour at our locals supermarket car parks including Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Lidl.

The signs at all of the supermarkets regarding the parent and child spaces could not be clearer, yet despite this it seems motorists are still willing to break the rules in order to be closer to the store.

At all of the supermarkets I observed drivers who appeared to be misusing the bays reserved for people with children.

Shoppers seemed eager to park close the entrance, so much so that they are willing to inconvenience parents who are legitimately entitled to those parking spaces.

We asked local parents on whether the issue affects them and a shocking number said they find it difficult to find a space at their local supermarket.

One dad, from Heckmondwike, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I have a three-year- old in a car seat, it's a nightmare at times to get parent child spots and it's difficult to get him in and out when parked in a regular spot.

"I think there's a mixture of reasons as to why, partly because of people without kids using them, but also there just aren't enough spots, it's not just a local issue, it's the same wherever we go - it's really frustrating."

Mum-of-two, Kel Russon, agreed: "As a mummy of a three-year-old and a seven-month-old I struggle. What is more annoying is when you see people parking there with no children or the children are left in the car. Tesco are the best , Aldi and Asda the worst."

Another mum, Stacey Blomfield, fumed: "People without kids use them constantly. Also people who leave the kids in the car with the other parent while they go in.....what's that all about?

"The spaces are wider for pregnant people and for people to fully open the door getting kids in and out, not for people who just can't be bothered parking elsewhere."

And Lucy Beetham agreed: "Honestly the amount of Deliveroo drivers that use them at Asda Morley for McDonalds is ridiculous. Luckily Asda Morley has a good amount of child places but it annoys me so much.

"There needs to be a national system in place like Meadowhall do, where you have to get a permit to put in your windscreen. I don't know how this would work on a bigger scale or who would monitor it but something needs putting in place!"

Another local mum, Kimberley Rout, said: "The Aldi in Batley is just permanently taken by people with no kids, don't think I've ever got a space there!"

Estelle Lauren expressed her frustrations, she said: "It makes me furious! I often see vans with workers in the parent and child bays, and cars without car seats too."

And Meg Dixon agreed: "They should be more heavily regulated I don't know why people find it so hard to understand that it’s not about being closer it’s the width of the space.

"Batley Tesco is the worst, you end up just having to try park where there’s a space next to the car seat. It should be a similar situation to blue badges where you get a card up until the child is of a certain age - nobody parks in the disabled spots!"

And Heather Frear said: "The issue isn’t where they are it’s the space around the car. It’s tight enough in all the spaces but worse if you have to get babies and car seats out - just make all the parking areas bigger!"

Angela McShane suggested: "Perhaps making all spaces more accessible is the way to go?!" Dad, Freddy Fuggle, said: "Asda in Dewsbury is the worst for people parking in disabled and child spots."

Yorkshire Live have contacted Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl for comment.