Charity highlights abuse of disabled parking bays

The survey by Disabled Motoring UK will look at the car parks of six major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons

A disabled motoring charity is hoping to highlight "persistent" abuse disabled drivers can face and the misuse of accessible parking spaces.

Disabled Motoring UK, based near Carleton Rode in Norfolk, is asking people to give feedback about accessible parking spaces in supermarket car parks, including if vehicles are displaying a blue badge.

The group's chief executive, Graham Footer, claimed one in 10 people admitted to parking in a disabled bay without a permit.

He said: "Accessible bays are not a 'nice to have' - they are absolutely essential for disabled motorist blue badge holders."

The campaign, named Baywatch, is urging people to feedback on the use of accessible parking spaces six major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.

It hopes to keep supermarkets accountable while highlighting some of the challenges faced by disabled people.

He said: "The pressure is already there to find accessible parking without the added pressure of abuse of accessible bays on top of that.

"It's such a shame when the scheme and bays are abused."

Graham Footer says about one in 10 people admit to parking in a disabled parking bay without having a permit

However, the charity asks that people just observe and do not take matters into their own hands by confronting motorists.

"You really don't know who you are challenging," Mr Footer added.

The information will be published for people to see how each supermarket compares.

He said: "It's only when we highlight the issue that anything is done but Baywatch keeps this matter on the agenda... it focuses attention for a short period of time which makes the supermarkets get up and listen."

Natalie Portman says there is a sense of judgement and scrutiny for those with hidden or not visible disabilities

Natalie Portman, a blue badge holder who also works at Equal Lives, a disability rights organisation in Norfolk and Suffolk, described how she felt there was "scrutiny" and judgement when disabled people parked.

She said smaller shops and parking areas with less spaces could increase tensions.

"I think the assumption to have a blue badge, you have to have some mobility appliance, actually that's not a thing for so many blue badge users.

"That sense of suspicion you get when you use a parking bay until someone decides you're entitled to be there.

"From a disability perspective, and as an individual, that sense of judgement and scrutiny is quite overwhelming when you have that all the time."