Wheelchair Access Toilets at the AMEX

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

As someone who works with people in wheelchairs, there's nothing that infuriates me more than waiting with them to queue up for ages, only for someone in perfectly good health to stroll out and looking puzzled as to why I'm glaring at them. It's not on.

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Funny, when I quizzed Richard Hebberd about the inadequate provision of Gents' toilets in the North Stand, his first reply was that we were all drinking too much, but he then said use the ones at either end. I said "aren't those disabled toilets?" He said we were free to use them if the queues were too long. Now one set of Ladies' toilets has been converted to Gents', so maybe the club will enforce the rule in the North Stand as well. I can't say I've noticed them doing so though.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Or how about the club shop start selling catheters with pictures of Gully on them? That way we could all get as pissed up as we want and never have to leave our seats.

 

[Gully]

Or how about the club shop start selling catheters with pictures of Gully on them? That way we could all get as pissed up as we want and never have to leave our seats.

Or maybe even go as far as blue and white stripey incontinence pants, just so they can understand what someone with no bladder control has to put up with!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I still cannot see the issue here. So people have to queue for a piss for five or ten minutes. Big deal. Is that really such a horrific thing to deal with? Do we really expect never to have to queue for anything in life? The queue for the blokes' toilet always moves quickly anyway. Or you could leave your seat a minute earlier, I don't know.

It just seems to me the OP is making an unreasonable fuss about something that really, in the grand scheme of things, isn't a genuine issue to him, but which might really be one to someone of different physical capability.

 

[British Bulldog]

Funny, when I quizzed Richard Hebberd about the inadequate provision of Gents' toilets in the North Stand, his first reply was that we were all drinking too much, but he then said use the ones at either end. I said "aren't those disabled toilets?" He said we were free to use them if the queues were too long. Now one set of Ladies' toilets has been converted to Gents', so maybe the club will enforce the rule in the North Stand as well. I can't say I've noticed them doing so though.

As I said in an earlier post a steward does stand by the disabled toilets in the north stand ( in the north east corner ) and allows able bodied fans to use it but priority is given to disabled fans, But as also mentioned by others it's not very nice at all when you have to follow someone in there who cant aim straight and as proved a number of times this season there seems to be a fair number of pissheads who cant.

 

[DanielT]

a steward does stand by the disabled toilets in the north stand ( in the north east corner ) and allows able bodied fans to use it but priority is given to disabled fans,.

Different rules for different stewards?

When it comes to kids needing the loo though, they often aren't able to hold it for 5-10 minutes. Some discretion would have been nice from that steward if a father with his daughter had come up, as the gents toilet queue is massive, and she would need a cubicle, which makes for a longer wait.

Seems like the general consensus is to let the child wet herself though!

 

[Pete and Sarah]

Tough - can't you walk further and/or wait.

 

[pigbite]

Seems like the general consensus is to let the child wet herself though!

I don't think anyone has said or even intimated that. I have a 6 yr old boy and would not hesitate to go to the disabled loos if he really was that desperate. I would also be pretty annoyed if the steward did not exercise some discretion if no one was using the loo. However....

As grim as they can be, the mens' cubicles can be used by him and I would try jumping the queue in the mens as a first option. Also, I make sure he goes to the loo before we sit down (even if he says he doesn't want to go - he always does) and he is old enough not to have to go every 30 mins. The queue is not that bad either - it can take a few minutes but I would say with most 5 yr olds up that's not a problem generally.

Of course, some kids are younger and/or kids being kids they don't have the control adults have but we are in danger of confusing two issues. I would agree 100% that steward discretion should be better but give some people a hi-vis and that's what you get. However, it also doesn't mean that every kid needs to use the disabled loo every time. The real issue though is that the whole thing is only a problem, like most problems in life, because some people simply cannot stop behaving like selfish, ignorant tits.

 

[Emily's Mum]

I've not yet made it to the Amex, but my experience of going to the disabled loo at other grounds is quite good. If I can I will always try and go to the ladies, but if this involves queing (when I am already stiff from sitting down) then I would use the disabled loo. However, most of the time if a steward sees me walking with difficulty they will always either show me or escort me to the disabled toilet.

Disabled toilets also have another facility; they have an alarm in them, so if you fall you can summon help.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I don't think anyone has said or even intimated that. I have a 6 yr old boy and would not hesitate to go to the disabled loos if he really was that desperate. I would also be pretty annoyed if the steward did not exercise some discretion if no one was using the loo. However....

As grim as they can be, the mens' cubicles can be used by him and I would try jumping the queue in the mens as a first option. Also, I make sure he goes to the loo before we sit down (even if he says he doesn't want to go - he always does) and he is old enough not to have to go every 30 mins. The queue is not that bad either - it can take a few minutes but I would say with most 5 yr olds up that's not a problem generally.

Of course, some kids are younger and/or kids being kids they don't have the control adults have but we are in danger of confusing two issues. I would agree 100% that steward discretion should be better but give some people a hi-vis and that's what you get. However, it also doesn't mean that every kid needs to use the disabled loo every time. The real issue though is that the whole thing is only a problem, like most problems in life, because some people simply cannot stop behaving like selfish, ignorant tits.

That is exactly what you are saying.
Why do people go on about disabled toilets. They are not. They are wheelchair access toilets where wheelchair users get priority. But to leave them unused at half time when the ques for the regular toilets are huge and some guy wants to take his daughter to the toilet, and is refused. Do you think that us right? Someone on here already said Mr Hebbard has said able bodied can use the wheelchair access.
So say I can walk fine, I have MS, can I use a wheelchair access toilet? Even though I am perfectly able to use a regular one?
Also what if there are No wheelchair users? I haven't seen a single person in a wheelchair use them toilets. I honestly can't believe some of you think it's right that 2 toilets unused are being reserved for someone that isn't there, and a father takes their kid to the regular toilets with a massive que. I don't care what you say anymore. I know that is wrong, even if some of you don't.

 

[British Bulldog]

Different rules for different stewards?

When it comes to kids needing the loo though, they often aren't able to hold it for 5-10 minutes. Some discretion would have been nice from that steward if a father with his daughter had come up, as the gents toilet queue is massive, and she would need a cubicle, which makes for a longer wait.

Seems like the general consensus is to let the child wet herself though!

If a little kid was bouncing up and down in desperate need for a pee then I really dont think either a steward or a disabled fan would begrudge them the use of a disabled loo if it looked like they were going to wet them self.

 

[Without Limits]

I have had a major knee op and have been on crutches. From my normal seat in West Stand Upper I have been in the North Stand.

It is terrible that people in wheelchairs are being made to wait in line for toilets by able bodied people who can not be bothered!

I don't care about people using them but please people LET THE PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR JUMP ANY QUEUES.

I myself waited 10 mins at half time yesterday to able bodied people.

 

[British Bulldog]

Why do people go on about disabled toilets. They are not. They are wheelchair access toilets where wheelchair users get priority.

Are you sure about that because i'm certain the toilets in the north stand that I use have got a sign up that say's " Disabled Toilets "

 

[pigbite]

That is exactly what you are saying.
Why do people go on about disabled toilets. They are not. They are wheelchair access toilets where wheelchair users get priority. But to leave them unused at half time when the ques for the regular toilets are huge and some guy wants to take his daughter to the toilet, and is refused. Do you think that us right? Someone on here already said Mr Hebbard has said able bodied can use the wheelchair access.
So say I can walk fine, I have MS, can I use a wheelchair access toilet? Even though I am perfectly able to use a regular one?
Also what if there are No wheelchair users? I haven't seen a single person in a wheelchair use them toilets. I honestly can't believe some of you think it's right that 2 toilets unused are being reserved for someone that isn't there, and a father takes their kid to the regular toilets with a massive que. I don't care what you say anymore. I know that is wrong, even if some of you don't.

Firstly, my first para was related to comment made that some of the posters on this thread would be happy to see a child wet themselves. No one has said or intimated that.

Secondly, in broad terms I agree with you. Strictly speaking the loos are simply wheelchair accessible and it I don't really care if anyone, able bodied or otherwise uses them. There's no law that says only certain people can use a loo just because it's got a big door and some extra fixtures and fittings inside. I go back to the real issue though - you and I would use that loo (a) when it's not going to incovienience someone who really does need to use it and (b) not leave it looking like we've only ever used an open sewer. There are enough knuckle heads however that don't care and would happily slash and crap pretty much everywhere and even abuse a genuinely needy person into the bargain. The club are obviously trying to police this and then end up looking the fools because someone behaves like a jobsworth.

You do have a very good point. It is crazy that there are loos that could be used that aren't. The whole thing shouldn't need policing but once again the few spoil it for the majority - and I would include any jobsworth steward in that group.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I have had a major knee op and have been on crutches. From my normal seat in West Stand Upper I have been in the North Stand.

It is terrible that people in wheelchairs are being made to wait in line for toilets by able bodied people who can not be bothere1-0 BrightonES.

I myself waited 10 mins at half time yesterday to able bodied people.

If you'd have been in the WSL, you'd have had the choice of all of them as none of them were being used. Well that is after the steward had decided if you were disabled enough to use them. Disabilities are not always visible and so how do you decide who uses them and who doesn't? If people in wheelchairs have to que behind able bodied then the stewards are not doing their job, the club don't provide enough regular toilets and the abled bodied are being selfish. That clearly is not right, and shouldn't happen. My point was wheelchair users get priority, but when not being used they should be available, especially for young children. Alot of establishments like McDonalds have wheelchair access and baby change facilities, it stops the problems like that experienced on Saturday.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Firstly, my first para was related to comment made that some of the posters on this thread would be happy to see a child wet themselves. No one has said or intimated that.

Secondly, in broad terms I agree with you. Strictly speaking the loos are simply wheelchair accessible and it I don't really care if anyone, able bodied or otherwise uses them. There's no law that says only certain people can use a loo just because it's got a big door and some extra fixtures and fittings inside. I go back to the real issue though - you and I would use that loo (a) when it's not going to incovienience someone who really does need to use it and (b) not leave it looking like we've only ever used an open sewer. There are enough knuckle heads however that don't care and would happily slash and crap pretty much everywhere and even abuse a genuinely needy person into the bargain. The club are obviously trying to police this and then end up looking the fools because someone behaves like a jobsworth.

You do have a very good point. It is crazy that there are loos that could be used that aren't. The whole thing shouldn't need policing but once again the few spoil it for the majority - and I would include any jobsworth steward in that group.

Ok well this is it, common sense and courtesy. I would be the first to berate anyone making a wheelchair user wait for any toilet, not just designated ones.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Wheelchair access are indeed not just for people in wheelchairs as you say, but you don't have to have a disability to use them, certainly toilets shouldn't be exclusively reserved. Does this happen in shopping centres?

Yes it does happen in shopping centres,you have to have a radar key to use them,disabled toilets are exactly that...for the disabled...there is a reason that they are made that way,able people can use them and deny the disabled use of them... disabled can't use the 'able' toilets,just because able people are too lazy to queue up,just for once think of others...

 

[Mr Burns]

Ok well this is it, common sense and courtesy. I would be the first to berate anyone making a wheelchair user wait for any toilet, not just designated ones.

Give it up mate, and admit you are wrong.

So you let the wheelchair toilet be used by anyone. Queues will form outside that as well, so you case of the father with his daughter, he'd still have to queue.

The issue then comes when some twat takes exception to a wheelchair user jumping the queue, and if you don't think that would happen inside a football ground, then your an idioit. 99% of people would be fine with it, but someone who has issues with themselves will want to pick a fight.

What happens if someone decides to take the paper and a jam sandwich in with them, and occupies it up for 10 minutes or more?

In an ideal would it would be fine, but in the real world it is not.

So unless you are disabled and were turned away from it, then give it up. You are just plain wrong on this one mate.

 

[portlock seagull]

Yes it does happen in shopping centres,you have to have a radar key to use them,disabled toilets are exactly that...for the disabled...there is a reason that they are made that way,able people can use them and deny the disabled use of them... disabled can't use the 'able' toilets,just because able people are too lazy to queue up,just for once think of others...

Here here. Can't believe some of the comments on this thread. Talk about wanting to fight everything just for the sake of it. Disabled toilets are for disabled people. End of. I'm also inclined to say the reason able bodies people shouldn't end up using them is because it would end up looking like men had been let into the ladies if you catch my meaning? that's not very pleasant for people forced to sit.