PARENTS have been left unable to park in parent and child spaces at a popular city shop as childless drivers take up the spaces, it has been claimed.
Mum Hannah Davies, 30, who has a 14 month old daughter, has spoken out over the problem after struggling to park in a parent and child space at Hereford's Home Bargains.
"Yet again, people in Home Bargains car park are parking in the parent and child spaces, even though their children are not even getting out the car and they don’t even have a child with them," she said in a post on social media.
Her post struck a chord with other local parents, with fellow mum Chloe Matthews-Edwards agreeing: "I quite often will stop if I’m trying to park and see people with no children, I ask them why why they are parking there, 9 times out of 10 they apologise and move the car."
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But not all agreed with her point of view, with one comment reading: "I always park in those spaces even though I don't have children. I don't see why people who have children have priority over others. I understand people with disabilities should have priority, but people with children shouldn't have priority over other people."
Mrs Davies said that despite lots of negativity in the comments, many families feel the same frustrations.
“Taking a child shopping is already stressful. I myself have suffered with anxiety especially when my little girl was a lot younger, to have the added worry of finding a safe enough space and a space big enough to not worry about accidentally knocking another car.
"As children get older, they don’t like being put in the car seat so do struggle and kick out, which you definitely need the car door wide open for.
"I also sometimes have to put the pram on the back seat due to not having enough room in my boot so I need enough space to open the door fully," she said.
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The RAC say parent and child bays are reserved for parents or guardians with one or more children under 12 years old.
While it is not illegal to park in a parent and child bay if you do not have a child under 12 with you, you could be hit with a parking charge notice for falling foul of car park rules.
Mrs Davies said: "Other parents like myself have to find a big enough car parking space to try and get a baby in and out, which is normally completely over the other side of the car park to the shop.
"And even if you managed to do that, you come back to find someone has parked so close next to you and you struggle to open the door.
"If it was the other way around and I had parked in a disabled bay without a blue badge, I would get moaned at or in trouble," she said.
"I know this isn’t just in Home Bargains car park but it’s where I see it the most. Please think before you park!"
We have contacted Home Bargains for comment.
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