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Dad slams Ashford Asda for leaving the disabled changing rooms full of stock and unusable

00:00, 18 July 2016

updated: 13:02, 18 July 2016

An Ashford dad has slammed Asda for leaving the disabled changing rooms full of stock and unusable.

Tim Redfearn visited the Kimberley Way superstore yesterday (Sunday) afternoon but found the cubicle was being used as a store cupboard.

The dad-of-two, whose daughter sometimes uses a wheelchair, accused the supermarket of having a disregard for disabled customers.

He said: "We went to the changing rooms and the disabled cubicle was locked but it was quite clear from the outside that it was full of stock and nobody was inside.

Asda's disabled changing rooms were full
Asda's disabled changing rooms were full

"I knocked on the door to double check and then unlocked it and found it like this (pictured).

"This is clearly an issue with the store management attitude towards disability. It is a problem from the top down and it’s not reasonable to blame shop floor staff.

"It is woefully inadequate. Why on earth should someone with disabilities have to ask for a store cupboard to be emptied so that they can try on clothes? They are entitled to the same level of dignity as anyone else.

"Frankly anyone who is prepared to treat people with disabilities in this way has in my opinion a broken moral compass."

A spokeswoman for the chain admitted the failure but said the incident was a 'one off'.

She added: "Customer care is of utmost importance to us, which is why our disabled changing room is usually locked for the exclusive use of customers who require them.

"In yesterday’s instance, if a customer needed the changing room the rails would have been removed immediately."

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