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

[fakenamefornow]

Seaside town with beach that stretches about 1.5 miles away from town centre with just flats and houses facing beach, ie no pubs or cafés that might let me use the toilet. It's about 10am rainy January morning, nobody else about apart from about two/three people and dogs on the beach.
Half way along on seafront is a public toilet block. Both mens and womens shuttered up and locked. Disabled toilet, locked, had a phone number to call for remote access so they could let people in. Called number and despite me pleading that I was desperate for the loo (I was) and pointing out no others available, I was refused absolutely point blank access because I wasn't disabled.
I don't think this is fair at all, but what do others think?
YANBU - she should have let you in.
YABU - no way should she have let you in regardless of how much you needed the loo.

Is the telephone number manned 24 hours a day to grant access to those who need a CP facility? Or are those with severe disabilities only allowed out during the day?

They are not ‘toilets’.

What?

Of course they are toilets.

The thread is crazy!

And they most definitely are not for people who are caught short.

The OP wasn’t caught short - the other toilets were locked up and not available. No one is going to wet themselves, or pee in public, rather than use a disabled toilet. Behave yourself.

What did you do in the end OP?

Yes. He may not qualify for disability benefits or a blue badge because they are assessed on the level of difficulty the applicant has, but he is most definitely disabled. Cancer is automatically considered a disability under the Equality Act.

The nature of changing places facilities is explained upthread. They are disability specific and not the same as accessible toilets.

The mistake here is having the helpful telephone system. Imagine having to man that!

Our council has a key system for a Changing Places (not radar key) and you have to apply with the name, address and contact details of the carer and the user, and evidence of eligibility for the higher rate Disability Living Allowance.

If it had been locked with a key OP wouldn't have access and that would be that.

and as explained above they are supplementary to other facilities
they are not to be placed in isolation
To do so is not in accordance with building regs

so the other facilities should not be shut

"Our council has a key system for a Changing Places (not radar key) and you have to apply with the name, address and contact details of the carer and the user, and evidence of eligibility for the higher rate Disability Living Allowance."

High rate DLA has nothing to do with the need to use a Changing Place.

Changing Places facilities are a different provision from standard accessible toilets and are provided in addition to them, not as a replacement.
They are specifically designed for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets due to profound and multiple disabilities, and require additional space, equipment, and often one or two carers.

A standard accessible toilet is too small for more than one person and a wheelchair. Changing Places facilities have a minimum recommended size to accommodate the user, a wheelchair, up to two carers, and specific equipment not found in standard accessible toilets, such as a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench and a ceiling track or mobile hoist system.

Standard accessible toilets are designed for independent use - one person, while CP toilets are designed for dependent use with assistance. They are there to meet the needs of all disabled people, not entitled non disabled folk who think it’s fine to just nip in when no other toilets are available. If the LA are locking public loos because of financial constraints then complain rather than using facilities not intended for you as a default.

Please read about what Changing Places facilities are. They are NOT public toilets. They are specialist facilities. Please read through the thread and learn what they are.

What happens if you’re visiting the area / passing through ?

Which is something to bring to the attention of to the council. It doesn’t mean a CP facility should be used as the default if nothing else is available.

equally though ( as noted )
they are not to be provided in isolation as they are a supplementary facility

Other facilities for people should have been open

So @Vivi0 s point is valid

Changing places website has a list of all the toilets that are registered with them which will have details of how to access them. If I am planning a trip I will check the area so I’m aware of where they are and how to access incase we need to use it

I disagree that’s not how it works

Changing places are funded mainly through council taxes ( some part funded by charity)
so
A person should not be denied access to a facility …that’s discrimination. Given that nothing else was available

You cannot have one without the other

So yes
Contact the council but in that moment in time with no facility open OP should have been given access if others had it

As I said before
This is on the local council and another toilet should have been available

So it’s one database for everywhere
That’s handy

l’m not convinced that this poster is entirely correct to be honest because the aim of the CP facilities campaign is to provide these facilities for whoever needs them, not just those specific to the local area, and @Avantiagain is spot on when they say that it's not dependent on being in receipt of specific disability benefits - it’s about need. There could possibly be a system in place for visitors to the area to apply for access to facilities in advance, but it seems a bit complicated.

That makes more sense.

I think we’re saying the same thing here - which is that the standard facilities shouldn’t be locked, therefore leaving the CP toilet as the only option.

Yes and if you’re travelling you can put the start and end point in and get a list of CP toilets along the route. Obviously it’s only as good as the information they are provided but it is useful.

👍

👍

So good I posted twice 🤣🤣

< there’s a song in there somewhere >

There are some CP toilets that operate via a fob or key that you apply for. This page from CP’s website explains the different ways CP toilets are accessed.

I did.

They are still toilets.

I’m not saying that anyone and everyone should be able to use them, but in situations like the OP found herself in (where the other toilets were locked up, and this was the only one available) are we really expecting people to wet themselves, or have to pee or poo in public?

A bit of common sense, please!