Disabled man with mental age of seven stopped from visiting Legoland alone
A 40-year-old disabled man with the mental age of seven has been stopped from making regular visits to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester.
Anthony Lewis, who has Williams Syndrome, had been making weekly visits to the tourist attraction using his annual pass, but after seven months he was told he was no longer welcome.
Legoland Discovery Centre said that adults without children could not enter the attraction due to "child protection".
The Daily Mail reports that Anthony's sister Paula bought the £60 pass for him and explained his condition to staff.
When he was stopped from entering and offered a pass for alternative attractions run by parent group Merlin Attractions, his sister argued that this was unfair. Management agreed to honour the last five months on his pass but refused to renew it.
A Legoland Discovery Centre spokesman said: "Our policy not to permit entry to groups of adults, adult couples, or lone adults, regardless of circumstances, who are not accompanied by a child or children under the age of 16 is we believe therefore appropriate and the best way to constantly maintain a welcoming environment for our young visitors.
"We regularly host evening events specifically for adults in order to showcase specific attractions within the centre and these are very well attended."
According to Manchester Evening News, Anthony's mother Elaine is now campaigning for disabled adults to be allowed to visit the attraction during the daytime.
Writing on change.org, she said: "Adults with a learning disability are just children in adult sized bodies.
"They should be allowed open access to enjoy all the things that others take for granted.
"They must not be forced to hide away in the dark which is what Legoland are saying by only allowing them access to the adult only evening sessions."
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