Mum says Airbourne visit was ruined by double-locked Eastbourne disabled toilet

Christine Brown said her family, including her daughter Michelle Bates who uses a wheelchair and her two autistic children, had to leave when a council worker locked all the toilets at Langney Point on Sunday morning (August 19).

This meant the disabled toilet was unavailable, even with a radar key.

She said, “Suddenly this man came along on a bicycle and when my daughter was trying to go to the toilet he locked all the toilets and said he had instructions from the council to do so.

“I thought they were supposed to be available for anyone. It was shocking. There was children crying. There was a disabled lady who was really upset because she was wetting herself.”

The family, who were visiting for the week, left to find a public toilet for Michelle, who suffers Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), but by the time they returned the parking space had been taken.

Young Riley, 10, and Keera, six, were upset by the situation. Their grandmother said, “It spoiled our first day here. The children had a meltdown because it wasn’t what we previously planned. It’s terrible. It shouldn’t happen.”

The family, who have been visiting Eastbourne for years, say they have previously had problems with disabled toilets being double locked early – so they couldn’t use a radar key.

A council spokesperson said, “Regrettably, this toilet had to be closed because it was blocked. Inappropriate use of the toilet by a member of the public caused the problem.”

Other toilets were kept open, they added.