Wasn't allowed to use disabled toilet despite the fact no other toilet was available. AIBU?

But what if a disabled toilet is all that is available?

@BoredZelda thinks that non-disabled people should never use a disabled toilet.

So what qualifies as a "disability" in this context?

I would have just gone in the sand next to it if there wasn’t anyone else about.

Quite.

so what should they do on an empty seafront in January?

TBH if you are going to poo your pants any toilet is necessary.

You should have said you were trans. A guy my DP works with has disabled toilet access because the surgery has made going to the loo an issue.

Slightly off-topic, but what does "disabled" mean in this context?

I'm physically fit and able, but over the last couple of weeks I've begun to wonder whether I might suffer* from IBS or IBD (possibly Crohn's disease) and I'm wondering if I should have a right to use a disabled toilet.

Should I be getting a Radar key?

*I'm positive for a particular antigen that makes me particulalrly susceptible to various autoimmune disorders which have become more evident as I get older

I was going to ask if it was a Changing Places toilet and I see your update says it was. CPs are an additional facility for those with the most complex needs who's needs are not met by regular accessible toilets, they are provided in addition to regular toilets and accessible toilets, the equipment in them is expensive and specialist and if they are damaged then it can mean the difference between a person with a complex disability having a day out or having to stay home. If you call the Changing Places team I am sure they will explain the reasoning to you.

No. A non disabled person shouldn’t be using the disabled toilet. No matter how long they are there.

They are more likely to have instant access if it's only disabled people using it than if its disabled people plus able bodied people who've bought a radar key online.

This ^

In the complaint to the council I would detail the date and time of the call so they can identify the member of staff.

I agree bad system really. A disabled person has to telephone a number and reveal their medical situation to a stranger. Also why were the other toilets locked? Could she not remotely open them?

By the same token, what happens if someone with a genuine disability is already using the loo when your hypothetical person needs it?

It's the same thing!

A non disabled person using a disabled loo should just be mindful not to be in there too long, and if there's a queue, then let a disabled person in first.

Just say that your radar key doesn't work in this toilet.

I got tuts because the baby changing facility was in the disabled loo. Not my problem. Another place the baby changing was in the gents.

I always think this argument is a straw man.

A disabled person can use those toilets, yes, but they don't always have instant access - because another disabled person may be using it.

If it was a case of weeing yourself or pooing your pants surely as a disabled person you'd have the compassion to allow someone else to use it especially if they were already in the toilet before you?

I have a friend who is not 'disabled as such but has a medical condition where they can't wait. No one would know by looking at them, so you can't judge if anyone has a right to use a disabled loo. There are people who can' t wait, for all kinds of reasons.

Well no…they have specialised equipment available, yes. But they also have a toilet that is totally useable for the general public. Changing places toilets are all about increasing access not excluding people Becuase they aren’t ’the correct user’. And I say that as a disabled person who uses changing places bathrooms.

@fakenamefornow Where did you end up peeing? That's the real cliffhanger!

I voted the wrong way, but you are not being unreasonable, accessible toilets are not just for disabled people anyway, they are for people with access needs. And if the other toilets weren’t open you should have been allowed in.

Changing places toilets have specialised expensive equipment. They are not for regular users.

but the council should have the regular toilets open.

In Weston? I know one of the automatic loos was out of order just before Christmas, but there’s others along the prom and they’re usually 24/7. It tends to only be the big attended loos that have opening and closing times.
I recommend the Wetherspoons if there’s no others available, that place is huge and nobody notices if you nip in to use the facilities.

Oh FFS (at that last bit.) I hate trying to find a toilet in the town centre (I tend to go in Whetherspoon's now.) The town I used to live in had loos in Sainsbury's, Next, the bus station, the carpark over what used to be a Waitrose and the library. Bus station ones weren't the nicest but the carpark ones were clean. Here there's some disgusting ones (the floor was sticky, I used that one once then walked through a puddle to wash my shoes and DS's pram wheels) or the aforementioned Spoons. They moved the Gregg's so that doesn't have a loo anymore. Anything else is further out. (Supposedly this town is bigger, but poorly served.)

It seems a bit off, that you ring the number and they ask 'are you disabled'? I guess your mistake was saying no.
They really shouldn't even ask. It shouldn't even need to be manned? Just some automated code or something when you call it?

I am glad you mention that! Yes, lots of public toilets everywhere is Australia!

i don’t understand why it is not prioritised in the UK. Even if local authorities have no money - they should prioritise this above other things. Everyone needs to go the toilet !! I used to find this very stressful when my dd was little - so often we would go out for the day in a park etc and there were no toilets or locked.

Changing places facilities are hideously expensive to install and much more than just a disabled toilet. Cleanliness is extremely important. I imagine that is why it is being gate kept. Clearly its wrong to have to call somebody to use it but its a sign of the times that these facilities get vandalised.

My local city has closed most of it's public loos. As a result the shrub/hedge borders of the park that my dog & me tend to frequent have become the alternative & are disgusting. I have to keep my little dog away from the borders otherwise she finds the poo & rolls in it.

I complained to my local councillor who told me that they don't have the funds to maintain public loos & they tended to be used by druggies to do whatever druggies do & rough sleepers would sleep in them. He also suggested that it could be fox poo. No it wasn't - I know the difference between human & fox poo!

So I put a message on FB with a photo of my dog covered in what can only be human poo as there were bits of sweetcorn & tomato skins in it 😱. That generated a big response including an item on local TV - TV loves a cute dog story. The councillor also appeared on TV trotting out the above explanation.

The public looks that were close to this park are now up for sale as redevelopment opportunity.