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.

Question ends up being.

How much council tax do you wish to pay extra for public toilets to keep being fixed and cleaned multiple times a day due to damage.

That’s the issue really the council cannot keep funding all the cleaning and repairs so they close them longer and longer and then permanently. Without a on site member of staff £££ or a system like this £££ they will keep getting damaged £££££ so if we want them we are going to have to pay for them.

I suspect this is in reference to signs saying "Anyone who seems to be unsure what's inside their pants (or words to that effect) is welcome to use this facility".

And yes, as a wheelchair user myself, I can confirm that even when having locked the accessible toilet from the inside, I have been walked in on before now. I now keep one eye on the door, ready to yell if someone tries to get in.

If the non accessible ladies or gents toilets are locked and I see someone needing to use the loo, I'll happily let them in after me, because disabled or not, I've known the feeling of being desperate before now, and wouldn't see anyone else suffer likewise. There is such a dearth of public toilets in many places now, due to so many being closed due to council cutbacks, vandalism, drunkenness and drug addiction, sleazy perverts dogging etc.in them. It stinks (no pun intended).

Incontinence can be a disability. They sound awful, what sort of person weilds their power to not allow someone access to a toilet?
It's a bad system overall.

Do they take a simple "yes I have a disability"for an answer, or are people forced to give their private and sensitive medical information out loud over the phone to a jobs worth call handler?

Surely this isn't even legal??

Handicap? In 2026?

I doubt you'll ever be in this position again OP but next time just lie and say you have IBS and you need the loo now. Oh just seen that they were basically under the impression that disability only means in a wheelchair? In that case definitely complain and explain about hidden disabilities. Do they really want people having bowel movements around the beach because they really really can't wait?

It also annoys me when councils pay parking attendants to patrol car parks but won't keep the car park loos open at the same time! Of course, one is revenue generation and the other isn't.

That’s a fucking awful thing to suggest, because you know, some idiots will.

This
That local authority are discriminating in not allowing everyone to use THE ONLY AVAILABLE TOILET!
Whoever answered the phone to you was a complete power crazy jobsworth!

I was at a hotel during Christmas and went to use the toilet, I am disabled and use walking sticks and I have a radar key but the disabled toilet was not locked and was unoccupied. There was a bloke waiting outside the ladies loo for his wife, he stepped across the disabled loo door and tried to direct me to the normal loo claiming ‘you have to go in there’ . I firmly stated ‘ No, I’m going in the disabled ‘ . He reluctantly moved to let me by, for the rest of Christmas I referred to him as the Loo Police! 🤣🧑‍✈️🚽

@Noshadelamp
why would having a changing places facility not be legal?
They are for those with disabilities and are funded by various different groups..
Is it legal for a restaurant to specify that its toilets are solely for customer use??

For those pp’s talking about incontinence type disability (without wheelchair use) (the urgency etc) changing spaces do cover that type of disability too.

This is what the Changing Places website says:

People with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. Changing Places toilets are different to standard accessible toilets and should be provided in addition to accessible toilets.
….
Different organisations will be responsible for the Changing Places toilet, depending on how and by whom they were installed. Local authorities, public sector organisations and private organisations may all have installed a Changing Places toilet in your area.

…
Not all disabilities are visible. Many people live with conditions that affect their mobility, dignity, and independence in ways that aren't immediately obvious to others. For those with invisible disabilities, such as neurological conditions, chronic illnesses, or severe continence issues, standard accessible toilets often don’t meet their needs.

Changing Places toilets are designed to bridge this gap.They provide essential features like extra space for carers, a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a hoist system, a colostomy shelf, and sometimes even a shower. These facilities ensure that everyone has access to a safe, clean, and dignified toilet experience.

It's important to remember that needing these facilities doesn't always "look" a certain way. A person may appear able-bodied but still require the specialised equipment or space that a Changing Places toilet offers. By understanding and supporting the need for these inclusive spaces, we move closer to creating a society that values dignity, equality, and true accessibility for all.
Supporting Carers

A changing places toilet is not an ordinary disabled loo. It will have a lot of specialist equipment in, hoists etc and a large bed for adults with significant disabilities to be changed on. Access is restricted to people who need that level of support. The issue is that no other toilets were available, and that is worth complaining about.

The other week I was in a cafe where they'd decided to use codes on the doors and make you take a receipt to get the code to use the loos. I thought it was tight so my little bit of rebellion was to lock my door as I left so it stayed open and someone could go in and use it without needing the code.

I don't agree with service providers gatekeeping their loos. I have read posts on here about disgusting behaviour, but I can't really see that someone using the cafe and buying a drink is any less likely to trash the loos than someone walking in off the street because they are desperate.

And councils CAN afford to keep loos open. They just choose not to.

I’m interested to know what you did OP?

OP - I don’t even know if there is an actual toilet in that facility!!!! Perhaps THAT is why you weren’t allowed in

See here…

https://www.astorbannerman.co.uk/news/new-accessible-toilet-facility-officially-opens-in-weston-super-mare/

OP - did they explain to you what the facility consists of?

Sorry they actually said it doesn’t matter if you have incontinence? I have MS and struggle with intermittent incontinence and would argue it’s the worst part of my disability. Definitely a disability and I use the disabled toilets for it (as they are bigger so I have more room to change myself). That’s disgusting.

@Ohhohoho
But if the facility doesn’t have an actual toilet (like this one doesn’t appear to).., ??

Changing places facilities are quite different and specialist. They're very expensive and can understand the need to protect them but I'm not sure how you do that without also inconveniencing and discriminating against people.

By that reading I could possibly have fit their profile. I'm not disabled and wouldn't describe myself as having continence issues but I need need to go to the loo about every hour to 1 5 hours and a couple of times in the night. If I don't go I can get a bit 'leaky'. I don't consider this incontinence but others might.
I did explain to her I couldn't wait but it made no difference.

I think it's great that toilets for disabled people are being kept for disabled people. Toilets like blue badge parking spaces are often used by able bodied people.

Sorry op but if I were you'd I'd plan better and make sure there are facilities available if you have an urgency or incontinence issue.

No

You can see the toilet In one of the photos. There is definitely a toilet, I’ve used it myself.

If a person has an urgency or continence issue then accessible toilets are for them. Because they have a medical need to use a toilet quickly or more often.

The public toilets in the same building were shuttered up with those looked like shop window roller shutters.

But most public/council toilets are locked up at this time of the year. What would you normally do?
Maybe buy a SheWee and pop in your handbag if you're planning on going walking where there aren't any cafes, shops etc?

@fakenamefornow

Contact your local Councillor about this or if not in the area the local Councillor. It is basically discrimination! I would simply say - if it happened again - that I was not mobile enough to sit and rise without using rails which are provided in disabled toilets. The "normal" toilets are presumably due to vandalism or the Council's wish to save money. You can [in Boots I believe] get a lanyard which says - aptly - "not every disability is visible"

I don't know WSM at all btw.