Supermarket fines parking cheats

Supermarket Asda is to roll out a scheme piloted in Merseyside which penalises shoppers found abusing priority parking spaces. People who park in disabled bays without displaying a blue badge will be fined £60, as will those using mother and baby spaces without young children.

The trial showed a 60% increase in the number of free priority parking spaces. Asda will donate profits from the fines to baby charity Tommy's and the Motability car scheme for the disabled.

Patrols by special Asda parking wardens began at stores in Aintree, Breck Road and Walton, all in Liverpool, and in Skelmersdale and Sefton both in Merseyside. Parking firm Town and City Parking has won the contract to enforce the parking rules and issue fines.

The retailer's customer service manager Paul Hedley said signs would alert drivers to the potential fines. "At Asda we have decided to take a stand to keep specialised parking spaces available to those customers that need them," he said. "Most customers using these bays without good reason don't realise their actions impact on people that rely on them to do their weekly shop."

Priority parking spaces are reserved for disabled customers with a blue badge in their cars and for parents travelling with a child under 12. An Asda poll found four out of five of its customers thought the parking fines should be extended nationally. The roll-out starts in north London on Monday and will be in force at all relevant Asda stores by mid-March.

Tommy's chief executive Jane Brewin said: "Putting fines in place for parking misuse is a bold move by Asda but is the right one for giving parents with young children a helping hand."