IF YOU ever shop at one of those large edge-of-town stores (and who doesn't these days?) you will no doubt have noticed a proliferation of 'special' parking places.

All stores nowadays, quite rightly, seem to have parking for the disabled as close to the store as it is reasonably possible to get.

They have also quite sensibly made those spaces larger so that those who need to use a wheelchair can do so without wrecking the paint on their car.

Then there appeared the 'mother and baby' slot, though with perhaps less justification since babies these days seem to ride in slings round their mother's neck or in lightweight buggies.

It is easy to see the mothers and babies as they load up another week's supply of disposable nappies.

The problem is that the 'disabled' category is more honoured in the breach than the observance.

How often have you seen whole rows of cars without an orange badge between them filling spaces clearly marked for the less able?

One of the worst places for this is on the Marina in the covered car park by the Virgin Cinema, where the ground floor is often full of non badge-holding cars.

When space is at a premium it is hard to be faced with apparently healthy people dashing in and out of the shops while you are looking for a space for a needy driver.

Iknow, I know, don't bother telling me that you can't see if someone is an asthma sufferer or has a heart complaint. I admit that there are exceptions to every rule.

But so often it is obvious that not only do they not have an orange badge but that they are unlikely to be a candidate for one for some time to come.

And of course there is a category who do not benefit from a badge but have a degree of difficulty in going about their daily business.

Older people on the whole are pretty mobile these days and would probably be horrified to hear any special pleading on their behalf, but a little concern from the younger and more able might not come amiss.

There is a wonderful road sign which says "Elderly people crossing" in which an old lady appears to be making an indecent attack on an elderly gentleman.

Why don't we have a few of those signs painted in appropriate places like supermarkets and the station?

Ibet there would never be illegal parking in those spaces. No one would want to own up to being over the age of consent!

And just think what it would do for our street cred to park on the sign of the friendly 'goose'.

It is not until you are in the situation of being less able than you once were, or are with someone who is genuinely in need of a special parking spot that you realise how thoughtless some people are.

Think about it when next park, and if you have all your faculties, spare a thought for those who may not be so lucky.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.