Thoughtless drivers who park in bays reserved for disabled people or parents with young children in Darlington supermarkets could find themselves faced with stiff fines. A warden now patrols the large parking area at Sainsburys in Victoria Road dishing out tickets to those who flout the rules. They may well think twice about putting their cars in one of those special berths once they know they can be whacked with a £50 penalty.
There is often a feeling that too many motorists have blue badges. Some look fairly sprightly when they get out of cars, and there is likely to be a crackdown to catch those who have no genuine reason to use them. But now that the warden is around other drivers would be well advised to keep out of the marked bays. It is easier to tell who is entitled to use the parent and child bays as they have little kids with them. But just about every day other drivers can be seen moving into those spaces. They deserve to be penalised.
The private firm operating the scheme for Sainsburys says half the takings will go to charity. There is a feeling that now Sainsburys have set the ball rolling other supermarkets will also start enforcing the rule. Maybe it's also about time Sainsburys did more to enforce their two-hour limit to halt those who park all day and walk off elsewhere, making it difficult at times for the store's genuine customers to find a bay. Often there are far more vehicles in the car park than shoppers inside the store.