I took my two sisters, Holly and Sophie, to Wharf Green to see the Olympians/Paralympians and Jahmene. My youngest sister, Sophie, has Cerebral Palsy so she went in her wheelchair as it would be too far to walk. She was so excited, but well, all I can say is that it was a disgrace! I am so disappointed in the Swindon people.

I drove into town and planned to park at the back of Argos in the disabled spaces. I was outraged to see that the radio or television crews were parked over all of the disabled spaces. I cannot see the logic in this, and cannot see how they are allowed to park there, as non-blue badge holders are not meant to park in those spaces. If anybody has a suitable explanation, I would love to hear from you. We ended up parking in the last space left at the back of Iceland.

My sisters and I walked around the back of Boots and tried to get closer to the stage but could not. Sophie could not see a thing. I noticed a raised stand and thought that maybe it was a designated disabled place. However, it was not. I believe it was something to do with TV or Radio. I asked a police officer if there was a designated disabled area in which it would be easier for them to see the stage. The Police Officer told me that if there was, it would probably be over by the House of Fraser. She told me to walk through the gangway which was meant to have been kept clear. However, when it came to it, there was no gangway. The stewards had not kept a walkway clear at all. I asked another steward about disabled access and he pointed me in the same direction: by the House of Fraser.

When it came to walking over to the House of Fraser, we had to walk through the crowd to get the designated space-which should have been sign posted anyway. I was, and still am, absolutely disgraced with the Swindon people. The amount of people that moaned and glared when we asked to pass through to get to the disabled area were large in number. I must confess, some people were very thoughtful and it was refreshing to see. I was always under the naïve impression that my sister, as a disabled person, could rely on strangers if ever needed. However, I have now come to realise that, based on last night, the odds of people helping are minimal. I had never realised the extent to which people were ignorant about people with disabilities. People need to become more educated about disabilities. I am so disappointed.

Things got even worse though because when we eventually managed to get over to the House of Fraser, a steward (who I may add seemed to have no awareness of what was going on), told us that there was no designated space for disabled users. At this, I told him that they should improve their communication with each other as it was appalling. He said it may be better to walk further up towards the car park. As my sister Holly pointed out though, we would not have been able to see the stage. It was so stressful trying to find this designated space, when there was actually no such thing. Sophie turned to me and asked to go home as could not see anything, and it was such a squash. At this, we all decided to go home, before even seeing Jahmene or the Olympians/Paralympians on stage.

There was so many disabled people near the back of the crowd, that would not have been able to see anything. I believe, as they are included in the Equality Act of 2010, that there should be a designated place for them to see the stage better as there was no way that they could watch it. The security was awful, as there was no walkway, children were getting squashed, and they did not have a clue what other stewards were doing. We came home disappointed and angry, when it should have been a really enjoyable evening. My sisters were just as excited about seeing Jahmene and the Olympians/Paralympians, but couldn’t see them because of a lack of organisation. They do not deserve to miss out! I have also heard that some Olympians/Paralympians were booed from the stage…Swindon people…please learn some respect! - Charlotte Black