AN elderly wheelchair user was left embarrassed and upset after finding herself locked out of the disabled toilets on a visit to her former home town of Dart­mouth.

The woman, from Ply­mouth, had to ask for help in the ordinary public loos in Royal Avenue Gardens after discovering a key to the disabled toilets had to be obtain­ed some distance away, at the Guildhall in Victoria Road.

In the confusion, she suffered an accident and had the undignified experience of having to have her underwear changed by a stranger.

South Hams Council, which runs the toilets, said it was sorry to learn of the woman’s distress but insists the disabled facility must remain locked because of vandalism.

The woman’s story was highlighted by her relative, Daphne Stockton of Thorn­ton Cleveleys, in Lancashire, who said she was disgusted to learn the toilets had been locked on Bank Holiday Monday.

‘A notice on the door said the key was obtainable from the Guildhall, miles away for a disabled wheelchair bound person,’ she said. ‘A workmen was asked if he had a key and replied “yes but I’m not allowed to open them”.

‘By this time my relative was bursting. Her husband had to ask a stranger if she could help his wife in the ordinary toilet, which took two people to help her.

‘As you can understand my relative felt undignified and upset. She had by this time had an accident, which meant her underwear had to be chang­ed in front of a stranger.

‘Surely the key could be put into a key lock maybe with a 20p charge if required so it’s not abused.

‘With the start of the season and for this to happen I feel needs highlighting for other visitors not to be in the same position.

‘Come on Dartmouth. I’m an ex-Dart­mouth girl and this is so wrong.

‘I’ve since been online and informed her where she can get a national key but many disabled people would not know this and again it’s not the point.

‘Disabled toilets should not be locked as access is paramount.

‘Yes I know about vandals but surely now with holiday time there has got to be a better system?’

A spokesman for South Hams Council said: ‘We are sorry to hear of the distress caused to the elderly, disabled visitor who was unable to access the disabled facilities in Dartmouth over the bank holiday.

‘South Hams Council joined the national Radar key scheme where one type of key unlocks thousands of disabled toilets across the country and can only be purchased by those eligible.

‘Over 400 local authorities have joined the scheme which provides disabled residents and visitors with safe access to disabled facilities.

‘Disabled toilets, if left unlocked, are prone to misuse, including bouts of vandalism. By keeping disabled facilities locked, those who do not need disabled facilities cannot gain access and the toilets are left clear for those who need these facilities.

‘Radar keys are available from the Disability Rights UK, which began the scheme, or, locally, can be purchased from Dartmouth Town Council, Follaton House in Totnes, Totnes Inform­ation Centre and Kingsbridge Town Council for £4.20. Customers will need to show their blue badges to be able to purchase the keys.

‘Buying a key is a one-time purchase. Once bought, the key can be kept and used again to access the toilets at Royal Avenue Gardens and other disabled facilities across the country.

‘South Hams Council disabled facilities included in the scheme are located in the Royal Avenue Gardens in Dartmouth, the Quay in Kingsbridge and the Coron­ation Road toilets in Totnes.’