Pregnant woman furious at fine for using parent-and-child parking space at Asda

"I expect people to use a bit of common sense," Olivia told local news site Get Reading. "I understand there are rules but these things happen.

"I feel that, in my stage of pregnancy, it is unacceptable to expect me to try to climb out of a normal parking bay with cars either side. There were no spaces at all with a space next to it, otherwise I would have used one of them."

Olivia says she questioned the parking attendant – and his manager – about the decision to fine her.

"He was incredibly rude," she said, "and told me I didn’t 'count as a parent yet'.

"The manager then even said, if I hadn’t been pregnant, he might not have even given me a ticket as I look so young and the upper age is 12.

"I was so outraged when he said that. Being told I look young enough to be considered a child is disgusting."

Olivia has now appealed her ticket and has received an apology from Asda. But she's still not happy about how it all happened, maintaining that pregnant women would find it difficult to get out of a car parked in a regular space.

But a spokesperson for Smart Parking (which operates parking services for the Asda store) has said, "Parent-and-child bays are an important resource that our client provides to assist parents with young children.

"These bays are designed with more space, so to allow parents with young children, prams and pushchairs to more easily get in and out of their cars. They are monitored to ensure that these spaces remain available for motorists who meet this criteria.

"With reference to the attendant on site, we welcome feedback and always act upon it."

Photos: Getty and Shutterstock

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