| Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s held an on-the-spot fines trial at 61 stores nationwide last year, with the scheme improving availability by 70% in just three months.
Now, following a rise in complaints about the issue, the Dundee store is to become its latest outlet to introduce the scheme and start handing out £50 fines to parking pests.
Uniformed patrols will now be operating at the city’s Baldovie Road store to catch inconsiderate drivers in the act and free up space for those in need.
All money raised from the scheme will go to charity Mencap, which promotes education for people with learning difficulties.
Bobby Davidson, deputy manager of Sainsbury’s on Baldovie Road, said he hoped it would act as a deterrent and make life easier for blue badge holders and parents with young kids.
He told the Tele, “I know from speaking to our shoppers that this is a real issue. This scheme will not only make parking easier, but will also donate money to Mencap. It’s a win-win situation.”
The move comes more than 18 months after Dundee’s Asda supermarkets started a similar scheme to ensure marked bays were available at all times and Tesco has now said it “would not rule out” changing its parking policies.
The latest move by Sainsbury’s comes ahead of the Disabled Person’s Parking Places (Scotland) Bill, which should become law neat year.
Helen Smith from the disabled motorists’ charity Mobilise said, “I’m delighted Sainsbury’s will fine bay abusers at many more of its stores.
“Mobilise has campaigned for years to start fining these people as we think it’s the only way to stop the problem.”
The city’s Asda Milton store had a 60% increase in availability of disabled and parent-and-child bays since its £60 fines were first introduced. A store spokesperson said, “The scheme has been an enormous success and we are delighted someone has followed our lead — it’s surprising it took so long.
“Feedback from customers has been fantastic, availability of marked bays is up around 60%.”
Although the fines are working as a deterrent, Asda stores across the UK have so far raised £70,000 for charity. The money has been split equally between Motability and Tommy’s baby charity.
A Tesco spokesperson said, “We have a range of measures to combat insensitive parking and, while Dundee stores do not currently issue charges, this may change as we review our polices.”
Morrisons, off Dundee’s Forfar Road, also does not operate such a system. |
