This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8488737.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Supermarket parking 'breaks law' Supermarket parking 'breaks law'
(about 4 hours later)
The UK's big supermarkets are breaking disability laws by having strict time limits in about a third of their car parks, charities have told the BBC. The UK's big supermarkets are breaking disability laws by having strict time limits in about one-third of their car parks, charities have told the BBC.
Private firms run some of the parking areas for Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons and customers face penalty charges for overstaying.Private firms run some of the parking areas for Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons and customers face penalty charges for overstaying.
But under the Disability Discrimination Act, businesses need to make extra allowances for disabled people.But under the Disability Discrimination Act, businesses need to make extra allowances for disabled people.
The supermarkets say they will review their policies on disabled parking.The supermarkets say they will review their policies on disabled parking.
Supermarkets are increasingly using private parking firms and automatic number plate recognition systems to limit customer parking, often to two hours.Supermarkets are increasingly using private parking firms and automatic number plate recognition systems to limit customer parking, often to two hours.
'Acknowledge problem''Acknowledge problem'
The restrictions are to discourage drivers from abusing the free parking spaces.The restrictions are to discourage drivers from abusing the free parking spaces.
A survey for BBC Breakfast suggests that about one-third of the car parks that impose time limits do not give disabled people any extra time to do their shopping, which is a breach of the law.A survey for BBC Breakfast suggests that about one-third of the car parks that impose time limits do not give disabled people any extra time to do their shopping, which is a breach of the law.
Neil Coyle, from the charity Disability Alliance, said: "Supermarkets need to acknowledge there is a problem, and secondly, very quickly they need to ensure their car parking procedures conform with the law.Neil Coyle, from the charity Disability Alliance, said: "Supermarkets need to acknowledge there is a problem, and secondly, very quickly they need to ensure their car parking procedures conform with the law.
"You or I can stamp our feet and say how outrageous it is but at the end of the day there is a law that protects disabled people from this happening.""You or I can stamp our feet and say how outrageous it is but at the end of the day there is a law that protects disabled people from this happening."
He said the supermarkets needed to end the "unfair charges" or "they can wait until someone takes a legal case and potentially face a considerable compensation case".He said the supermarkets needed to end the "unfair charges" or "they can wait until someone takes a legal case and potentially face a considerable compensation case".