Teesside Park has confirmed it will be adding new signs at disabled car parking spaces following an intervention from The Northern Echo.
Last month, the popular shopping complex came under fire after it was found to be displaying misleading information on signs for blue badge holders.
Signs outside disabled spaces stated there were “no concessions for disabled people”, meaning they had to adhere to the four-hour time limit - but bosses later confirmed it was able to co-ordinate allowances for those with a blue badge, if they visited customer services.
It came after disabled pensioner Harry Carse, who was hit with a £100 fine for staying 28 minutes over the time limit, branded the situation as “scandalous” after having his appeal declined.
Angie Stewart, inclusion and engagement lead at charity Disability North, then weighed in on the “crazy” situation, saying parking should be “designed with inclusivity in mind”.
This week, new electronic signs, located as drivers exit the car park, have been pictured stating: “Blue badge holders register car to extend stay".
The Northern Echo can now reveal that Teesside Park has increased the on-site signage to communicate its disabled parking provision since The Echo's report last month, and is set to implement even more signs across its accessible car parking spaces.
The complex has also introduced a new option for customers to call in to share details of their blue badge and car registration number, instead of visiting customer services.
As previously reported, signs in the park outside accessible spaces stated that “failure to adhere to the terms and conditions will result in a £100 parking charge” - with no mention of allowances.
This contradicted with the Teesside Park website, which said there is “no time limit for blue badge holders” and signposted shoppers to customer services.
Park bosses later announced they would be reviewing signs “across the site” - adding that the complex “works hard to ensure Teesside Park is an inclusive environment for everyone”.
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The park continues to boast around 2,000 unrestricted spaces, with many located at the leisure park - home to Showcase Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, and Ninja Warrior - and others near restaurants such as TGI Fridays and Pizza Express.
A spokesperson for the complex said: “We want everyone who visits Teesside Park to have an enjoyable experience and work hard to ensure we offer an inclusive environment for everyone.
“We appreciate all customer feedback and, after listening to this and also taking advice from an independent disability and diversity consultancy, have updated the on-site signage and part of the process for our car parking system.”
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