A music lover has claimed T in the Park stewards told her she didn’t look disabled enough to use the special toilets.
Claire Conlon has vowed that her fourth time at the festival will be her last after the humiliating experience on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old, who lives in Glasgow, has multiple sclerosis and as a result suffers increased urgency. Due to her condition she carries a special medical card, allowing her to use disabled facilities.
However, she claims two members of staff, who were employed by Showsec, ignored her pleas and her card, shoving her to one side and telling her to get out of the way of people in wheelchairs.
She said: “Even though to the untrained eye I appear to be able-bodied, I am in fact registered with a disability and also use a Blue Badge for my car.
“When I approached the male steward he spoke to me as though I was drunk, which I wasn’t, and manhandled me to the side where he very audibly and patronisingly explained that there was a queue of people who are ‘actually registered with disabilities’ whilst pointing at people in wheelchairs and with sticks.
“He took no notice of my medical card which I was showing him and pointed me in the direction of the portaloos with lengthy queues further down the arena. He wouldn’t listen when I tried to explain my circumstance, interrupted and spoke over me incessantly.
“The female steward was no better as she then began shouting loudly to me over the male steward’s shoulder saying ‘Move! Move! Get out the way, there’s a wheelchair coming’ and shooed me away with her hands.
“The behaviour of both stewards was wholly inappropriate and out of order. It was beyond rude, ill mannered, showed total lack of empathy and also sheer ignorance about the range of disabilities.
“I would hate for anyone else ever to receive the treatment that I did. It caused me upset and put a dampener on a day which I had looked forward to for months.”
A spokesman for Showsec confirmed that the incident is being investigated.
He said: “As a company, we pride ourselves on delivering high standards of customer service at all times and therefore treat any matter where someone feels the need to register a complaint about the conduct of our staff very seriously.
“We can only apologise at this stage that this lady has felt it necessary to make a complaint and will conduct a thorough investigation.”
A spokeswoman for T in the Park said they have been working to improve the experience for disabled revellers.
She said: “We’re disappointed to hear about this and hope she was able to enjoy the rest of the weekend.
“Our aim is to make T in the Park as comfortable and fun as possible for music fans with disabilities and over the years we’ve worked with a focus group to make sure we get it right and can improve on this year on year.”