A national charity has issued a plea over disabled people parking at the nation's main supermarkets. They say they are often confronted with additional daily challenges and are now making a major push to secure action from the major retailers.
And they warn this is particularly so in light of impending Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reforms set to be introduced during this parliamentary term.
Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) has stated that while the UK Government possesses the capability to eliminate many accessibility obstacles for Blue Badge holders, private car parks frequently demonstrate a lack of dedication to prioritising these enhancements.
In an effort to address this issue, the charity is set to relaunch its 'Baywatch' campaign next week, encouraging disabled individuals who travel as drivers or passengers to participate. The campaign aims to shed light on the persistent misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badge abuse in supermarket car parks, advocating for increased operator accountability.
Baywatch is calling on disabled motorists, and those accompanying them, to fill out a brief survey each time they visit the supermarket between July 21 - August 15 2025, providing information on any problems they encounter. The Baywatch Campaign is targeting six major retailer, reports the Daily Record. This includes:
During its last run in 2022, the campaign received more than 1,000 survey responses from DMUK. However, with more than 3.2 million Blue Badge holders nationwide the number of participants could potentially increase ten-fold.
For countless disabled drivers, securing an available and properly monitored parking space continues to pose a significant hurdle, with disabled individuals feeling vulnerable to criticism or confrontation, especially those living with invisible disabilities.
Given the scant evidence of proper enforcement, disabled motorists occasionally find themselves compelled to risk their own wellbeing by confronting those who misuse disabled bays. Disabled Motoring UK says it wants all disabled drivers to experience safety, assurance, independence, and dignity, declaring it's high time for "greater accountability in both public and private parking".
The need for accessible parking continues to grow, with 52 Blue Badge holders now vying for each designated parking space - a figure the charity believes highlights a broader accessibility shortfall throughout public areas and car parks.
The organisation discovered:
The charity highlighted that 1 in 4 people in the UK lives with a disability, making it crucial for all supermarkets to ensure they don't lose trade from their disabled customers. Studies from the Purple Pound indicate that supermarkets are missing out on £501 million monthly due to inadequate accessibility. Through collecting practical evidence, DMUK states it can share this information with parking operators and supermarkets to demonstrate the necessity for legal action and urge them to alter their approach towards misuse and exploitation.
Dr Shani Dhanda, award winning disability inclusion and 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.”
A DMUK member added: “I went to a supermarket, which had 25 Blue Badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company. I had to try parking elsewhere, it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.”
People who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 Marks and Spencers gift cards.
There’s no limit on the number of surveys one person can complete, and people are being encouraged to do so every time they visit a supermarket between the campaign dates of July 21 and August 21, 2025.
You can complete the survey online here.
This year’s baywatch campaign is strengthened by the support of a wide range of supporting organisations. These include:
You can find out more about Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) on the charity’s website here.
