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Supermarket parking 'breaks law' Supermarket parking 'breaks law'
(about 2 hours later)
The UK's big supermarkets are breaking disability laws by having strict time limits in about two-thirds 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 two-thirds 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 - which contacted 200 different large supermarkets from the four main chains, and spoke to 124 - suggests about two-thirds of the car parks that impose time limits do not give disabled people any extra time to shop, which is a breach of the law.A survey for BBC Breakfast - which contacted 200 different large supermarkets from the four main chains, and spoke to 124 - suggests about two-thirds of the car parks that impose time limits do not give disabled people any extra time to shop, which is a breach of the law.
Britain's motorists are being stealth taxed by another dubious practice Neil HerronMotorist campaigner
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".
Motorist campaigner Neil Herron said supermarkets should get rid of the "draconian" and "legally questionable" private enforcement process and handle car parking in house.
"If someone is abusing the system, clamp them, charge them a £2.50 clamp release fee, handled by their own staff.
"Britain's motorists are being stealth taxed by another dubious practice," he said.
The BBC's Keith Doyle said all four supermarket chains have said they will review their policies on disabled parking.
"If you do need extra time, the advice is to go to customer services in the supermarkets - they have all told us they will make allowances, they will review their policies - so give customer services your registration number and hopefully you won't get a ticket," he said.