Amanda Barrow, a long-serving employee at Leeds Beckett University, has been ordered to pay £20,000 in legal costs after her claims of disability discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments were dismissed in an employment tribunal. Barrow, who had worked at the university since 1984, claimed she faced discrimination when she was unable to secure a parking space for an event in April 2024. She argued that she needed onsite parking due to her agoraphobia, a mental health condition that causes intense fear or anxiety about being in open or public spaces. Barrow had held a parking permit since 1984, which was supported by the university’s occupational health department. However, the permit expired in March 2020 during the pandemic, and she did not apply for a renewal. Instead, she relied on temporary, ad hoc arrangements to secure parking. In April 2023, she requested a parking space for an event, which was granted. However, in April 2024, she was denied a space because the car park was fully booked. Barrow argued that she had previously had a permanent parking space for 36 years and that it was unreasonable to deny her a space for occasional events. The university had offered her the option of applying for an annual parking pass, which she had been reminded of in April 2023. However, she chose not to apply. A university manager assured her that she could book parking two weeks in advance, a week more than most staff, to help ensure availability. Barrow took sick leave on May 5, 2024, and left the university on May 30. She then filed an employment tribunal in Sheffield, claiming that the university had indirectly discriminated against her based on her disability and had failed to make reasonable adjustments. However, Employment Judge Andrew James dismissed her claims, stating that the ad hoc arrangements had worked for her until April 22, 2024. The judge ruled that requiring individuals with disabilities to apply annually for parking permits was a reasonable requirement, given the high demand for parking spaces. He also noted that allowing Barrow to apply two weeks in advance made it more likely that the temporary arrangements would continue to be sufficient.