THE MOTHER of a severely disabled York man is angry at the slow response to her complaints about accessible toilets.

Susan Brigham, of Barkstone Avenue, Acomb, said that the hoist in the disabled toilets at the York central (York Explore) and Acomb libraries have been out of action for around five weeks - although Explore York disputes that the Acomb hoist was broken.

During that time, she claims she and her son Tom’s carers, Sally Godfrey and Sabine Casula, have contacted the council several times to be told that work to fix the hoists was “in hand”.

Tom, 26, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which means he requires constant supervision, cannot walk, has limited use of his arms and is on medication to control seizures.

He lives with Susan and his father Billy, and they and his carers need public toilets with a hoist as he cannot be lifted by one person without them.

Susan said: “I’m angry about this. One of Tom’s carers had to go from the library to York hospital and wait for 40 minutes to find a parking space so she could change him in the hospital toilet.”

They have a specially adapted car, which can carry Tom in his wheelchair, but it is large and has a ramp at the back making parking extremely difficult.

Following her complaints, the council gave Susan a list of nine alternatives while the library hoists are awaiting repair.

However, Susan says that two of those were the libraries she is complaining about and they would face the same issues trying to find suitable parking spaces at many of the others.

Also on the list were the toilets in the station, Silver Street in the city centre and Energise Leisure Centre in Acomb, but, despite them being a short distance from the libraries, Tom’s carers say they would face the same issues trying to find suitable parking spaces.

Susan said: “You are having to go there, get parked up and then travel back on yourself.

“If people haven’t got a car like us, how are they going to manage?”

Fiona Williams, Explore York CEO, said: “The changing places toilet at York Explore has been out of use for some time now due to very bad water damage.

“The roof at York Explore has been badly leaking and we are working with the council to repair the damage and get the toilet back in action. We regret the time this is taking and recognise the inconvenience to our users.”

Regarding the Acomb Explore toilets, she said: “I have been in and seen the hoist working. We don’t believe it was broken, but if it was and we didn’t respond then we apologise and would want to remedy that if Mrs Brigham contacts me directly.

I have asked the manager at Acomb Explore to keep an eye on the hoist in case of any further problems.

“We want everyone to feel welcome in our libraries and if there is anything we can do to improve our services then we ask people to get in touch with us.”