LIKE many other parents I recently waited in an hour long queue to book my childs swimming lessons at Altrincham Leisure Centre.

But before a parent can do this, sometimes with children in tow, the car has to be parked.

If it is parked by the road side this can mean a long walk, if its left in the Pay and Display car park it can cost a pound at least.

But not knowing in advance how long the queue will be, too much or too little can be paid.

I decided not to risk it and put a pound in the machine, but as I did this I noticed an elderly man parking his car, which had disabled badges on show, and then taking out of his car a large sports bag with a racket handle sticking out of it.

He didn't bother with the ticket machine and walked quickly into the leisure centre.

After I had walked back to the car, put the ticket on the dash, then joined the queue in the leisure centre I watched even more of these fit looking O.A.P.s wandering around carrying large sports bags and smoking cigarettes!

My inevitable question is:- If these OAPs are fit enough to wield a racket on a squash court why are they using disabled badges to obtain free parking when they have all the time in the world to park elsewhere and walk?

Surely it is the tired and harassed parents, with children, who need to be able to park for free near to the leisure centre.

Grey hair does not mean a person is disabled!

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