Should shops let customers spend a penny?

I HAVE MS and have to use a walker, and went to my local Specsavers (Mail) with my husband for eye tests. After a very long wait, I needed to use the lavatory, but was told it was for staff only and I should go to a nearby Sainsbury’s. I said I might not be able to manage to walk that far. A male manager was summoned who insisted I couldn’t use the loo. The walk to Sainsbury’s and back was a real struggle. My husband could not come with me as he was having his examination. I felt humiliated by such demeaning treatment and I’ll never go back to Specsavers.

MARGARET GIBBS, Bristol. RECENTLY my husband had a onehour hearing test at Boots in Bury St Edmunds, which I had to attend as well. I needed the loo, but was told I couldn’t use the staff toilet and that I would have to visit a nearby coffee shop. This seems to be a common policy of chain stores.

Mrs ENID KING, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. I RUN a small High Street shop, and whenever I’ve let a customer use the staff toilet, it is almost invariably left in a disgusting state. No wonder shops refuse customers access.

NEIL MARGOLIS, North-West London. SHOULD any customer have any kind of accident while in a staff area, I’m pretty sure legal action would follow very quickly. I don’t believe Specsavers was being unreasonable — it was simply having to protect itself against the ridiculous compensation culture.

JOHN SHARPLES, Henstridge, Somerset. I’M A pensioner with mobility problems and after spending £300 on my glasses in Vision Express, had my request to ‘spend a penny’ refused and was directed to the public toilets on an upper floor. I was told the company’s insurance wouldn’t cover me. I suggest that anyone who wants better facilities should go to an optical department in a supermarket.

Mrs J. COX, Poole, Dorset.