After LESS than a month during which I have been able to use (legitimately) a Blue Badge for Parking which I OUGHT to have been given almost 3 YEARS ago, my patience snapped today ...... the following rant can also be read on a Blog specifically created elsewhere..  All aboard for my first blogspot 'rant'!!
After six months of arguing with Social Services et al. and having to write longer, angrier and more threatening letters each time, I was eventually awarded a Blue Badge for free Disabled Parking almost a month ago.
So far so good. I've seen my wife's mobility become ever more restricted almost every day for the last 4 years due to rapidly advancing arthritis, and being her full-time (unpaid) carer for all that time has had the effect of exascerbating the same condition in me - to the extent that I'm now on a waiting list to have BOTH hips replaced (provided the local NHS trust doesn't suddenly declare themselves bankrupt, and say that "All bets are Off")!!
But over the past month I've noticed just how many perfectly oiled, tanned and muscled drivers who DO NOT appear to possess a Blue Badge park their 4x4s, sports cars, people carriers etc in DISABLED BAYS at supermarkets, ATM machines, libraries, on double yellows, etc, etc .....
Furthermore, if you DARE to speak to them or ask if they happen to possess a Blue Badge or if they've simply "forgotten" to display it as required, you're almost certain to find yourself threatened with ABH or worse (I've tried it!)
Pointing this problem out to a passing PC (that's if you ever SEE one on foot patrol these days!) won't get you very far, either. They seem more interested in picking on OAPs who drop empty crisp packets on the floor (where they might, I suppose, create a potential hazard if they get stuck to the million tons of spat-out lumps of chewing gum: curiously, nobody knows how that got there either .....
Today I went to the Central Library in Liverpool for a meeting of local Creative Writers. I arrived in good time and saw that an elderly couple in their Renault Megane were sitting in a Disabled Bay but not attempting to get out of the car. Naturally I assumed that they were about to leave, and pulled up close by on a double yellow (which, as a Blue Badge Holder, I am allowed to do for a short while at least).
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, a car pulled away from the Disabled Bay ADJACENT to the one which was STILL occupied by the Megane and two passengers. As I pulled into the vacant bay Mr. & Mrs. Megane were JUST FINISHING EATING THEIR LUNCH .... and were NOT (surprise, surprise!!) displaying a Blue Badge.
I asked them if they possessed one, and AS USUAL got the height of abuse.
THEREFORE!!!
The sole purpose of this blog will be as follows.
In future, every time I see a vehicle which has been parked in a Disabled Space ANYWHERE in Liverpool I intend to "NAME AND SHAME" the owner by publishing the vehicle's MAKE AND REGISTRATION NUMBER, and hope I can persuade a significant number of others to do the same. If the police and/or local council officials won't help us reclaim the streets, perhaps it's time we DID IT OURSELVES!!! |
Go Bagheera Go!
Written by strawberryshrapnel (61 comments posted) 30th May 2007 | Yay! Im with you all the way...thats is so wrong! and Im one of those people who argues the point and sometimes gets nowhere,BUT If no one bothers nothing gets done, right? Half of the problem is laziness,tthe other half is a mix of ignorance and selfishness.
My theory is,that If I can tell people when theyve been lovely and caring,I can also tell them when theyve messed up...this goes for waitresses,shop assistants,doctors...anyone...anyone at all..and my kids,who are still quite young in comparisn,but who were taught not to drop litter or chewing gum...blah blah...don't get me started...oh hangon You just did! haha
SS |
Written by Lizzy (790 comments posted) 31st May 2007 | Agree completely. I'm perfectly able bodied ( won't say anything about the mind!) but I get extremely annoyed when disabled parking spots are used illegally. I'm almost tempted (but not quite) to take a baseball bat and render these 'mind' disabled people physically disabled. My husband once worked with someone who borrowed his son's disabled badge in order to get preferential parking!!!
Lizzy |
Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 31st May 2007 | Good for you, although I thnk you'll have no time left for anything else. It seems there are more and more selfish bastards out there.
A few months ago, a close friend of mine related a story to me. She was shopping at Tesco's near Bolton when an extremely flash and expensive car pulled into one of the disabled parking bays. No blue sticker. And who should hop out of it? Ivan Campo. (Bolton Wanderers FC) Certainly past his best, but far from disabled - he still earned thousands a week for tarting about a fotball pitch.
Good luck.
Phil. | blogspot, anyone???
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 31st May 2007 | Thanks for your encouraging words, Phil et al!!
You're welcome to drop in at the following blogspot
http://bluebadgebandits.blogspot.com/
for regular updates    |
Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 1st June 2007 | Hey. Have you heard the news today? Tory (of course) MP, Douglas Campbell has been had for parking for THREE days in a parking bay marked for disabled users. His defence was: 'There are an absurd number of handicapped spaces.' (Didn't know there were any handicapped spaces - I thought they were reserved for disabled users. Not only is he a selfish git, he can't speak clear English.) I much prefer the reply from the spokesperson for something or other: 'He's a pompous oaf.'
Check out the BBC news site for more details. You may want to add it to your blog. He was caught as someone took a photograph and sent it in. Could give your campaign some good publicity. I look forward to seeing you on Newsnight.
Link is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6708939.stm
(I've not worked out how to make it a hyperlink - you'll have to copy and paste it into the address bar.)
Sock it to 'em Paul.
Phil. |
Written by Livinginanattic (456 comments posted) 3rd June 2007 | I think if nobody ever enforces this there will always be people who'll just park where they please. I checked out your blogspot, it's a pity you can't get their names as well.
Good luck, and cheers.
Ben |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 3rd June 2007 | This is an issue that drives me wild, too.
A few weeks ago, my daughter and I saw a woman in a flash car park in the disabled parking area, sprint out of her car, and practically run into the supermarket. I took a note of her registration plates and reported her to the management of the store, but for my efforts got shrugs and a smile: 'We cannot monitor who uses the disabled spaces and whether they are entitled to do so.' Well who can? Disabled people?
So go on -- name and shame 'em! Wish I'd remembered the woman's registration number -- she was driving a silver BMW and looked to be about 30 ... |
Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 3rd June 2007 | | Probably a WAG. |
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