Warwick Castle

stuartmmcfc · 10-09-12, 08:48 AM

Some may wonder why I'm posting my experiences yesterday on here, particularly as it 's about jaguars, but firstly it may be of interest/help to some and secondally because I'm a bit angry

from another forum:
a bit of a strange day.
On one hand the cars were excellent, the weather glorious and the outdoor attractions fantastic
On the other hand, Warwick Castles treatment of the disabled is nothing short of disgraceful.

As some of you know I have to use a mobility scooter to get around.
I appreciate that in an old building that there will be some challenges but we we assurred that I could take it into the great Hall if I personally could get up the steps.
Not by 1 but 2 seperate members of staff.
Not only that but we were told there'd be assistance there to help carry it up the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs no one was there so my Wife returned and asked again if it was ok. No problem.
There was still no one there so she had to dismantle it and my children (6 ad 8) and my Wife had to struggle up the stairs with it.
Then the fun started.
Half way up a member of staff walked straight past her ignoring her.
Waiting at the top I stopped him and asked him if he could help. He then claimed he hadn't seen her and basically blocked the stairs (with her half way up) while he argued the toss about weather he'd seen her or not.
We then proceeded to have a look around.

5 minutes another female member of staff approached me and told me I had to take the scooter out as they weren't allowed. (There's no sign- only one saying "no pushchairs"). This effectively meant I had to go. They were throwing me out despite being told it was ok!
Obviously there was a fairly heated conversation and the Duty Manager was called to try and calm me down!

My Son was in tears after witnessing how his Father had been treated and I can honestly say I have never been so humuilated as I was then.

I later spoke to another member of staff (in a much more calm and friendly way!) and he told me that the only place I could go in the main castle was the Great Hall (!!!!) but they weren't allowed to carry the scooter up the stairs in case they broke it. He assured me the Retail manager had told him this.
I then told him that this wasn't the case, at least not on that day, and he had to admit that the whole of the castle is unaccessible to wheel chair users despite their leaflets naming only a couple of specific locations.
Warwick Castle need to ensure that ALL their staff "sing from the same hymn sheet" and either treat the disabled in a way I thought they deserve (particulary) after the "new" spirit following the Paralympics),, ensure signage is correct or be honest and say the Disabled aren't really welcome.

So, not a great day- but thats no fault of the JEC- and if I'm honest I wish I'd not gone.

I will be complaining!

Incidentally, Blenheim Palace had no problem (infact they were very helpful) and Alnwick Castle provide wheelchairs at the top of the stairs into the castle with disabled help and special routes- both argueably more historically important buildings

Coxy · 10-09-12, 10:42 AM

that kinda stinks a lot to be fair Stu.
Yes, understandable that given the age and type of building, some of it will not be accessible to wheelchairs, but that's not what the problem is here, it's the pig ignorance of the staff on duty. I'm sure you've come across it many a time where people will look the other way and give you a wide berth, and try to avoid eye contact with you.
Even with the Paralympics being in the spotlight at the moment, I can't see it in our lifetime where peoples attitudes will change.

stuartmmcfc · 10-09-12, 10:48 AM

tbf most people are really nice and helpful and if they avoid me it's not usually because I'm disabled!
Yesterdaya quite upset me- which for a person like me takes some doing

Coxy · 10-09-12, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartmmcfc

tbf most people are really nice and helpful and if they avoid me it's not usually because I'm disabled!
Yesterdaya quite upset me- which for a person like me takes some doing

did you stay around to see the Birds of Prey display? Worth the admission price on it's own if you ask me. That castle is just a bit of old brick if you ask me, would be better knocking it down and building a Tesco's, Maccy D's and a TK Maxx!!!

stuartmmcfc · 10-09-12, 11:59 AM

the birds we brilliant plus there was a Spitfire doing it's thing which was fantastict

look forward to shopping at the new Tescos

darreno'd' · 10-09-12, 08:13 PM

The answer here is to come to adi with us lot again ?

10-09-12, 08:13 PM	#6
darreno'd' Mr Sixty Thousand!! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: berkshire Posts: 1,729	The answer here is to come to adi with us lot again ? __________________ http://www.oesems.co.uk/

10-09-12, 10:42 AM	#2
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	that kinda stinks a lot to be fair Stu. Yes, understandable that given the age and type of building, some of it will not be accessible to wheelchairs, but that's not what the problem is here, it's the pig ignorance of the staff on duty. I'm sure you've come across it many a time where people will look the other way and give you a wide berth, and try to avoid eye contact with you. Even with the Paralympics being in the spotlight at the moment, I can't see it in our lifetime where peoples attitudes will change.

10-09-12, 10:48 AM	#3
stuartmmcfc 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,243	tbf most people are really nice and helpful and if they avoid me it's not usually because I'm disabled! Yesterdaya quite upset me- which for a person like me takes some doing

10-09-12, 11:59 AM	#5
stuartmmcfc 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,243	the birds we brilliant plus there was a Spitfire doing it's thing which was fantastict look forward to shopping at the new Tescos