Major change update for parking at Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi and Morrisons

A major push is taking place to push for a change in the rules around using disabled bays in supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi and Morrisons. Motoring organisation the RAC has asked members to reply to a survey currently taking place to find out the experiences of people who need to use the bays.

Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is encouraging people to take part in the survey between July 21st and August 15th, in order to expose the current situation faced by the community. DMUK’s Baywatch campaign aims to shine a light on the ongoing misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badges in supermarket car parks - and potentially press for more stringent enforcement.

The campaign encourages disabled motorists – and those who accompany them – to complete a short survey after each supermarket visit. The data collected will help build a clearer picture of the challenges disabled people face when parking at six major supermarket chains, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl.

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The survey in 2024 found that almost half (40%) of disabled drivers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces. A further 36% reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays.

DMUK’s data also showed that a further 40% of disabled people say that they cannot park at local shops due to them being inaccessible.

The demand for accessible bays is growing rapidly. With nearly three million Blue Badge holders in the UK – and a 10% rise in England alone last year – there are now an average of 52 Blue Badge holders for every accessible space.

These figures underscore a broader accessibility gap across public infrastructure and parking, leaving millions of disabled people at a disadvantage.

Dr Shani Dhanda, Award Winning Disability Inclusion & Accessibility Specialist, said: “Accessible parking bays aren’t just a nice-to-have - they’re a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that’s getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community.

“When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren’t a priority. Baywatch matters because it’s not just raising awareness - it’s holding people to account and pushing for real change.”

Results from the DMUK Baywatch campaign will be released in August 2025.

In terms of enforcement, the RAC says it’s largely down to the supermarkets: ”Supermarket car parks are private property. Any rules about their use will be enforced by the supermarket themselves or by a private firm allocated to manage them.

“Many of these firms are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) and must adhere to the organisation’s operator scheme code of practice.“ But the motoring organisation warned people about taking the law into their own hands: “In the frustrating event that you spot someone misusing a bay, it’s best to talk to a store manager.

“Approaching somebody using a dedicated bay without young passengers could lead to a hostile situation, so try not to get carried away by the injustice of it all.”

Organisation Mobility Disabled said: “They are obliged to make provision for disabled customers under the Equality Act 2010. No specific number of spaces is stipulated, but guidelines suggest 5% of total parking should be set aside.

“A controversial aspect of disabled parking arises when supermarkets insist that a Blue Badge be shown by drivers wishing to use the parking bays. This has no legal standing on private land, so any fines that are issued or contractual demands made on that basis, are outside of the law if the driver is genuinely disabled.”

Take partin the survey here.