Locked out: Dad's anger at council over inaccessible disabled toilet

A Glossop father has spoken out after his four-year-old autistic son was unable to access the disabled toilets in Manor Park.

Ben Pearson and his son Ray were playing in the Manor Park play area when Ray accidentally picked up dog waste. Ben, who carries a Radar Key - a universal key designed to give disabled people access to locked toilets - attempted to take his son to the park’s disabled toilet. However, when he arrived, he found the facility padlocked from the outside. 

“I couldn’t even get to the door,” he explained. “This is a clear breach of the Equality Act 2010. Disabled people should not be prevented from accessing facilities that are supposed to be there for them.” 

The Equality Act 2010 places a legal duty on service providers, including local councils, to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure disabled people are not put at a disadvantage compared to others. This includes ensuring that facilities advertised as accessible are genuinely available. 

Mr Pearson said the Council advised him to use the toilets at the Market Ground - more than a mile away - despite his son’s mobility difficulties. “I understand vandalism is an issue and repairs cost money,” he said “but this still discriminates against disabled people. Parents like me come up against barriers like this all the time. I want to speak out so that other families know they are not alone.” 

In response, High Peak Borough Council confirmed that the toilets at Manor Park are locked each evening due to repeated vandalism. 

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: 

“The Council provides public toilets at locations across the High Peak because we know that they are valued amenities for residents and visitors. Unfortunately, these facilities are often the target of vandalism and have to be repaired at significant cost to the Council. To minimise this, all public toilets - male, female and disabled - are locked overnight. 

“Sadly, the disabled toilets in Manor Park are one of the facilities that has suffered vandalism. They are open until 6pm every day and the door is then padlocked to try and prevent further incidents which is why Mr Pearson and his son were unable to use the facility with their Radar key. I understand, and sympathise with, the frustration and inconvenience this caused. We all recognise that this situation is not ideal and we are in contact with Mr Pearson as we work on a solution.” 

Ben has since said he intends to pursue a formal Equality Act grievance and is considering legal action. He hopes that by sharing his family’s experience, more parents of children with additional needs will feel empowered to speak up.