A "SEXIST" parking space has finally been rectified after a number of complaints.
An extra-large bay was installed at Horley Leisure Centre for parents who need room to load children into their vehicles.
Such spaces are commonly seen outside supermarkets, leisure centres and other family facilities, but they are usually marked "Parent & Child".
At Horley Leisure Centre, however, council workers marked the space "Mother & Child".
The mistake was spotted by a member of the public and sent into the Spotted: Crawley Facebook page, where it provoked a large debate.
On the page, Paul Taylor said: "So that means that I can't park there with my child? Men do take there kids out as well!!!!"
Sammy Louise Plant added: "This annoys me soo much, my other half is a fab dad and he and my little boy go out together all the time
...so bloody judgemental!!!! Xxx"
Lee Perry added the bay was "very sexist".
Others disagreed about the importance of the wording.
Trevor Reddin wrote: "Does it really matter? If you have a child then park there. Stop being pedantic. There isn't enough spaces as it is then you moan about the ones that do exist. "
Rob Sharp added: "Outrage? Seriously? It's a car park space. I really don't think any slight was intended by the owners.
"This is a mountain/molehill moment."
Michelle Plant believes there is a different problem at the Anderson Way centre.
She said: "The real issue is there are never enough [parking spaces].
"I have nothing against disabled people but there are always lots of empty disabled spaces and nowhere near enough parent and child spaces"
Tom Kealey, leisure services manager for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, previously said the authority had been made aware of the issue and that it had planned to repaint the space with "a more inclusive symbol".
He added that, despite what was printed, all adults with children were welcome to use it.
Happily, since the Surrey Mirror first got in touch with the borough council about the issue, the bay has been repainted and it now has a symbol with a man, woman and child.
John Reed, the borough council's property services manager, said: "Our leisure centre contractor, GLL, contacted us earlier in the year about the parking space and, in agreement with them, we recently repainted it with a more inclusive symbol. I hope leisure centre users bringing babies and young children find the new signage clearer and more welcoming."
