Wheelchair Access Toilets at the AMEX

[Captain Sensible]

For the last 2 games I have noticed a steward standing outside the wheelchair access toilets at the North end of the WSL concourse. He had his hands over both door handles and was stopping people going into them. This was despite que's for the toilets snaking along the wall of the concourse, he wouldn't allow anyone to use them. He said it was club policy. When it was pointed out to him that there wasn't anyone queing for the toilets in a wheelchair, or indeed anyone in the concourse in a wheelchair he stupidly said and I quote 'there is a guy in here with a walking stick, so i'm reserving them for him'. Quite idiotic.
Now as far as I am aware, wheelchair access toilets are exactly that, for wheelchair access. You don't have to be in a wheelchair or have a disability to use them. I saw a guy with his young daughter told he could not use them for his little girl. It was outrageous, later another guy with a kid came along, and then he oddly allowed them to use them.
Now I know this is just what this steward had been told, and the instructions come from higher up, but really is this right?

I use the regular toilets but it was just the principle, before I put this on ask the club, what do you all think?

 

[edna krabappel]

You're not really going to put that on Ask The Club, are you?

 

[upthealbion1970]

Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs, and I can't really believe you are not happy that it takes a steward to stop able bodied people using disabled toilets tbh.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I am nearly 100% certain that disabled/wheelchair access toilets can be used legitimately by able bodied people, but not ahead of a disabled person.

 

[Captain Sensible]

You're not really going to put that on Ask The Club, are you?

Thats why I wanted to know what people thought first. Really it was seeing the little girl turned away so her dad had to take in the regular loo's I presume. Its just I have a 4 year old and I sympathised with him.
If no one cares then fine I won't put it on ask the club.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I am nearly 100% certain that disabled/wheelchair access toilets can be used legitimately by able bodied people, but not ahead of a disabled person.

This was what I thought. Surely the club know this.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs, and I can't really believe you are not happy that it takes a steward to stop able bodied people using disabled toilets tbh.

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?

 

[Storer 68]

For the last 2 games I have noticed a steward standing outside the wheelchair access toilets at the North end of the WSL concourse. He had his hands over both door handles and was stopping people going into them. This was despite que's for the toilets snaking along the wall of the concourse, he wouldn't allow anyone to use them. He said it was club policy. When it was pointed out to him that there wasn't anyone queing for the toilets in a wheelchair, or indeed anyone in the concourse in a wheelchair he stupidly said and I quote 'there is a guy in here with a walking stick, so i'm reserving them for him'. Quite idiotic.
Now as far as I am aware, wheelchair access toilets are exactly that, for wheelchair access. You don't have to be in a wheelchair or have a disability to use them. I saw a guy with his young daughter told he could not use them for his little girl. It was outrageous, later another guy with a kid came along, and then he oddly allowed them to use them.
Now I know this is just what this steward had been told, and the instructions come from higher up, but really is this right?

I use the regular toilets but it was just the principle, before I put this on ask the club, what do you all think?

To use your own words, you are "Quite idiotic"

 

[British Bulldog]

It's probably because there's been problems with able bodied fans trying to take priority in using the disabled toilets and even there's even been abuse given to disabled fans who have questioned it, We have a steward at the disabled toilet in the north stand and although able bodied fans are allowed to use them if a disabled fan needs to use the toilet then we go straight to the front of the queue. Some fans could do with remembering that very often with disability also comes a weak bladder.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Captain Sensible? Are you sure?

 

[upthealbion1970]

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?

Most disabled toilets are exactly that, a toilet for disabled people hence the use of RADAR keys. Some shopping centres have baby changing units in the disabled toilets which is what I think you're getting at. If you spent 24 hours with the restrictions of a disability your view would be significantly different I can assure you.

 

[edna krabappel]

I am nearly 100% certain that disabled/wheelchair access toilets can be used legitimately by able bodied people, but not ahead of a disabled person.

I suppose the key thing here, like anything at the Amex, is that it is a privately owned premises, and the club can implement rules as they wish. Obviously they are required to have accessible facilities, as with any large building used by the public, but so long as these are provided, then they are entitled to say who can use them.

I appreciate your frustration at having to queue, but it's not the end of the world is it. If you went to use the accessible toilets, then dozens of other people would too, and then you might have a scenario (I sincerely hope not, but you never know) whereby someone who genuinely has to use those facilities feels or is made to feel uncomfortable at having to ask to go to the front.

Disabled people often have enough to put up with in life, I don't think it's unreasonable that they have a few privileges too, if one can even call being able to go to the toilet without queuing a privilege.

 

[tottenhamseagull]

I am nearly 100% certain that disabled/wheelchair access toilets can be used legitimately by able bodied people, but not ahead of a disabled person.

I can confirm this, I use the disabled toilet at work many many times a day. I am not disabled or wheelchair bound. I use it even when there isn't a queue for the gents at work. Theres a lot more leg room too. Its like your own private booth.. Lovely stuff.

 

[Seagull Steve]

We have the same at the South West lower, but I don't have a problem with able bodied people being allowed to use the toilet. But what I object to is being shouted at when the steward allowed me to queue jump and use the loo before able bodied people. I think that most people are fine with that, but believe me these three had a right go about it.

 

[edna krabappel]

I can confirm this, I use the disabled toilet at work many many times a day. I am not disabled or wheelchair bound. I use it even when there isn't a queue for the gents at work. Theres a lot more leg room too. Its like your own private booth.. Lovely stuff.

Fair enough, but that's at work, where the number of people around is a lot smaller, and importantly, there isn't a 15 minute window which half the building has to use to got to the toilet. And, I don't know- do you have many/any disabled people in your office?

At the Amex, you have a vast number of people leaving their seats at half time, including no doubt plenty of disabled supporters. I just don't think it's unreasonable in those circumstances for the club to say the facilities are exclusively for the use of disabled fans, if only for that period. Be interesting to hear the views of any disabled supporters or friends/family on this subject.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Oh, I don't have a problem with queuing. Just a small input that there is a misconception that disbaled toilets are for disabled only. As with you, I am sure it may differ for private premises, but then there are presumably regulations that tackle this sort of issue.

 

[Cullip4]

I can confirm this, I use the disabled toilet at work many many times a day. I am not disabled or wheelchair bound. I use it even when there isn't a queue for the gents at work. Theres a lot more leg room too. Its like your own private booth.. Lovely stuff.

I thought it was just me! Much more room in there to spread out, I refer to it as the business class toilet.

I have even taken the Ipad in their a couple of times to play Fifa 12 to give the full business class experience.

 

[StanmoreSeagull]

We've just won our 1st game in 9 and someone is posting about disabled toilet use!?

 

[Mr C Gull]

I can confirm this, I use the disabled toilet at work many many times a day. I am not disabled or wheelchair bound. I use it even when there isn't a queue for the gents at work. Theres a lot more leg room too. Its like your own private booth.. Lovely stuff.

Also known as first class. The safest place to be on a friday morning, when other traps are likely to be heavily pebble dashed from the previous nights excesses.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Oh, I don't have a problem with queuing. Just a small input that there is a misconception that disbaled toilets are for disabled only. As with you, I am sure it may differ for private premises, but then there are presumably regulations that tackle this sort of issue.

Misconception maybe, but it irritates the bejesus out of me when outside a disabled bog with mrs in her wheelchair desperate for the toilet then an able bodied person comes out cos they couldn't walk the extra few feet to the other toilets. Happens plenty of times when we are out and about. There's usually only 1 disabled toilet or 2 if you're really lucky and as has been posted its not uncommon for a disability to encourage a weak bladder.