To complain to the Royal Parks about this?

[HumptyDumptyBumpty]

Was in Greenwich Park today, which is lovely, in the kiddies playground which is half closed as they planted lots of pretty plants instead of replacing the play equipment and now the plants need to bed in apparently and DD needed a nappy change.

They have a loo block there, which is the only one for about half a mile. Boys and Girls as well as Ladies and Gents, so yay for that.

But the baby change is in the disabled loo, which is locked with a radar key. Playground Attendant was absent - waited 25 mins for him/her to show up, no joy.

Had to change DD on the grass, which is grim, and frankly no one needs to see that especially when there is a baby change not fifteen yards away which cannot be accessed except by disabled parents. I mean, why even bother having one?
WIBU to write to them and point out how daft this is?

Radar keys are available to anyone from Amazon for under £3.

Yabu. Most people can discreetly change a nappy whilst sitting on the grass! Nobody would be hovering over you to spectate

Anyone get buy a radar key as we bought one for my dm. No paperwork was shown and dm wasnt with us.

It's ridiculous though - why lock the disabled toilets, let alone the nappy change area? Why should disabled people not just be able to go to the toilet like anyone else (and parents change babies' nappies).

I would ask for an explanation and come back and let us know please. I've seen disabled toilets locked elsewhere, and often wondered why.

What wrong with changing on the grass?

Had to change DD on the grass, which is grim

Its not grim at all. I've changed my babies on the grass before and in my car. Actually I preferred to change them there as it was usually cleaner than a baby change room!

I assume they're kept locked to keep the junkies and cottagers out?

Oh yes that smell of an over flowing nappy bin former

Hmm I'd be very annoyed if I was a disabled person who needed that toilet and couldnt access it, I would complain if that were the case. Not being able to access a baby change on the other hand, I don't see as a problem at all. I'd much prefer to change my baby on the grass anyway.

They tend to be kept locked so that disabled people actually get to use the toilet instead of able bodied people constantly using them so disabled people don't get a chance until it's too late and they have messed themselves

I think we bought a radar key off amazon for precisely that toilet in Greenwich Park.

Not sure I ever actually used it for t

Can see why the disabled loo might be accessed by radar key only BUT the real issue is surely why isn't there a baby change in the boys and girls loos?! That's what you need to point out to them. Otherwise disabled people have to wait whilst people change nappies which is ridiculous. YABU about changing a nappy on the grass, nobody cares!

Accessible toilets have the radar key as scheme in an attempt to stop drug users etc using facility. On the whole it works, buy a radar key.

Its annoying it was locked, but can see why, for all the above reasons already noted. The park is really close to the National Maritime Museum, I would of just gone in there and used the baby change there.

But what's the difference between druggies using disabled toilets and druggies using "normal" toilets? Especially if anyone can buy a key off t'internet. I still don't get it.

And isn't it better for an able bodied person, adult or child, to use a disabled toilet than to have to wait for a "normal" toilet to become free? You hardly see queues of people waiting to use disabled toilets - I don't think I ever have.

Of course, the ideal would be for all toilets to be accessible to everyone, and while I'm on my soapbox, I'd also like women's toilets to have double the number of cubicles that men have.

Both of those aren't likely to happen any time soon though.

Okay, I should have magically known and bought a key which a) is only available online and b) is meant for disabled people so that they can access toilets designed for their use. Right. I'll get my psychic powers upgraded then.

The thing that annoyed me is that it's utterly pointless to 'offer' a facility that cannot actually be used.

Oh, and changing a shitty nappy on the grass isn't the problem, per se - though I do think it's not something others want to see - it's not being able to wash my hands afterwards. That is the grim part. In a proper facility, I can change DD, put her back in the buggy/standing on the floor while I wash my hands. On the grass, I can't. By the time I've picked her up, carried her to the loos, touched the door handles on the way in etc, I've spread any poo on my hands over her and the door which others touch. Nice. And before you all pile in, yes, the poo was everywhere. It was not a nice neat one, it was vile.

Radar keys are usually sold at any shopmobility operation in town/shopping centre. Also a good source for second hand paperbacks, if you like that sort of thing. All proceeds go towards funding the (voluntary) service.

Why not clean your hands with the baby wipes?

Disability Rights UK sell radar keys online. This is from their website: 'Important - We only sell the Radar NKS Key to people who require use of the toilet facilities due to their disability or health condition. '

That's what I've always believed. So I should buy one, despite not really being eligible? Just because everywhere assumes that nappy change facilities can be shoved any old place, and fuck parents who want to use them? Ace.

Humpty - I have a small bottle of that alcohol hand wash stuff in my changing bag for these situations and small towel. Being a man its sometimes even more difficult because changing facilities are often just in the ladies and that really annoys me. I have on occasion just gone in the ladies to change my daughter if that is the case.

Actually, OP, you're quite right: it is ludicrous to restrict nappy change facilities to a loo that no-one can get into. The grass won't always be a viable option. Contact the council?

I hate that loo and have never been able to gain access to change a nappy so have had to change excited toddlers on the grass with masses of children running past disturbing the changee.
It's certainly NOT close enough to the maritime museum to gather all the children off the slides etc and traipse across to change one nappy.
They need to figure out how to fit a fold down table into the tiny ladies and gents loos.
It's a children's playground! It should include young children in its facility planning. (Otherwise love the park and spend most of my time in the flower garden )

Weasley I'm glad you said it. I couldn't face the tantrum of taking her out of the playground for a nappy change, not to mention the faff!
The flower garden is lovely though. And the deer enclosure.

Niloufes I normally do too, it had run out today, Sod's law.
You're right, there should be change facilities for men and women to use, it's ludicrous in 2015 to limit it to one gender. Glad to hear you go in the ladies when needed.

Are we really still on all disabled people have no bowel or bladder control? How offensive