THERE seems to be a growing number of people who are not disabled but are using the designated parking areas for the disabled.

This is particularly evident outside supermarkets. Recently I spent 10 minutes searching for a disabled parking space outside one of our large supermarkets.

Obviously I have no objections at all to genuine blue badge holders filling the spaces, or even those with no badges if they are temporarily incapacitated in some way.

My mother-in-law, a blue badge holder requires the use of a wheelchair so the wider space between vehicles is needed for getting in and out of a car. Supermarkets are generally very good at providing services for disabled people but customers misusing the services add to difficult situations, causing anger, frustration and distress.

Over a period of about 30 minutes I recently counted at least six vehicles whose drivers and passengers were certainly not disabled, selfishly using disabled parking spaces. Some vehicles displayed blue badges, even though drivers and passengers were not incapacitated in any way. Other people parking did not display a badge at all and made quick, athletic exits from their vehicles to do their shopping.

This "I'm alright Jack" attitude is not acceptable and is insulting to the genuinely disabled. I know a number of disabled badge holders, all have experienced this type of thoughtless, anti-social behaviour. I am certain many readers of the Bolton Evening News have experienced the same thing.

There are no excuses for people ignoring the needs of the disabled.

David Aspinall

Longridge

Bromley Cross

Bolton