A wheelchair-bound woman was left in tears after being denied entry to a UK safari park because she couldn’t ‘prove’ she was disabled. Despite being strapped into her wheelchair in her accessible car, Ellie Greenaway was allegedly turned away at the gates at Knowsley Safari Park in Prescot.
Ellie, from St Helens, visited the park on Tuesday, April 3. Knowsley Safari Park stated that all carers attending the park are required to have this particular access card.
She told Manchester Evening News: “As we arrived there was a sign saying online tickets only so we booked our tickets just before entering. I was told by the lady on the desk that I needed a Nimbus card as proof of my disability to access the park. I told her I didn’t have that but I had my PIP disability letter and she just refused it.”
Ellie alleged that a second staff member showed “absolutely no empathy or compassion” towards her even though she was “so upset and crying”.
The Nimbus Access Card, an innovation by Nimbus Disability, was designed for disabled people to demonstrate and share their accessibility needs quietly and efficiently. It allows establishments to understand the access needs of cardholders without directly questioning them.
Recognised across a range of leisure and tourism venues in the UK, many allow it to be integrated within online booking procedures for individuals with disabilities. Knowsley Safari Park stated on their website that they have partnered with Nimbus to rolling out a new free ‘essential companion’ ticket for support persons starting January 1 this year.
Ellie said: “The fact that I was strapped into my wheelchair in my accessible car wasn’t enough either! I feel so frustrated that I have been treated this way.”
A representative from the safari park stated: “We’re proud to offer free guest access for essential companions, which is facilitated through the Nimbus Disability Access Card Scheme. Essential companions are required to provide the Access Card at the entrance and details about this are available on our website and during the ticket booking process.
“We are sorry to hear that Ellie’s experience was not the one she hoped for and certainly not the experience that we strive to deliver. If Ellie or her essential companion would like to contact us and provide further information about what happened, this is something we’ll look straight into.”
