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Sainsbury's believes a new squad of bay watchers will dramatically drive down the misuse of disabled and parent & child parking spaces in 400 of its supermarket car parks.
18,000 bays will be checked by a squad of uniformed monitors on motorbikes in a blitz of unauthorised parking which Sainsbury's research shows is in the top five frustrations for its shoppers.
"The vast majority of those who shouldn't be parking in these bays think that because they are just popping in for a few things they won't cause any inconvenience to the people who really need them. But they do," explains Gavin Clarke, manager of Sainsbury's car parks.
Online parents network Netmums surveyed its users and found that 85% were angry about the illicit use of parent & child bays. And Baywatch, a campaign dedicated to improving supermarket parking for blue badge holders, has data to show that around 1 in 5 spaces is being used by people with no disability.
In a successful trial last year, £50 fines were issued to cars misusing the bays in 61 Sainsbury's car parks within the M25. It led to a significant decrease in customer complaints, and bay availability improved by as much as 70% in three months. All profits generated from the scheme - which starts this week - will be donated by Sainsbury's to the charity Mencap.
Gavin Clarke continues: "These spaces are there to make life easier and more convenient for those who need more help. We've tried gentle persuasion, but ‘monitors-on-motorbikes' is the first scheme that's produced serious results."
Helen Smith from the disabled motorists' charity Mobilise said: "I'm delighted that Sainsbury's will fine bay abusers at many more of its stores. Mobilise has been campaigning for years to start fining these people as we think it's the only way to stop the problem."
Siobhan Freegard of Netmums commented on the scheme: "At last a supermarket that really listens to its customers! The parking issue is one mums feel strongly about and it's great that Sainsbury's is taking it seriously. It's important to be able to park safely, close to the store and have extra room in bays to manoeuvre children, prams and trolleys. Our poll shows the strength of feeling among parents on this subject."
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Sainsbury's believes a new squad of bay watchers will dramatically drive down the misuse of disabled and parent & child parking spaces in 400 of its supermarket car parks.
18,000 bays will be checked by a squad of uniformed monitors on motorbikes in a blitz of unauthorised parking which Sainsbury's research shows is in the top five frustrations for its shoppers.
"The vast majority of those who shouldn't be parking in these bays think that because they are just popping in for a few things they won't cause any inconvenience to the people who really need them. But they do," explains Gavin Clarke, manager of Sainsbury's car parks.
Online parents network Netmums surveyed its users and found that 85% were angry about the illicit use of parent & child bays. And Baywatch, a campaign dedicated to improving supermarket parking for blue badge holders, has data to show that around 1 in 5 spaces is being used by people with no disability.
In a successful trial last year, £50 fines were issued to cars misusing the bays in 61 Sainsbury's car parks within the M25. It led to a significant decrease in customer complaints, and bay availability improved by as much as 70% in three months. All profits generated from the scheme - which starts this week - will be donated by Sainsbury's to the charity Mencap.
Gavin Clarke continues: "These spaces are there to make life easier and more convenient for those who need more help. We've tried gentle persuasion, but ‘monitors-on-motorbikes' is the first scheme that's produced serious results."
Helen Smith from the disabled motorists' charity Mobilise said: "I'm delighted that Sainsbury's will fine bay abusers at many more of its stores. Mobilise has been campaigning for years to start fining these people as we think it's the only way to stop the problem."
Siobhan Freegard of Netmums commented on the scheme: "At last a supermarket that really listens to its customers! The parking issue is one mums feel strongly about and it's great that Sainsbury's is taking it seriously. It's important to be able to park safely, close to the store and have extra room in bays to manoeuvre children, prams and trolleys. Our poll shows the strength of feeling among parents on this subject."
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