17 April 2023 , 14:02
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Boots have been forced to apologise after they put up a parking sign for 'less abled' customers.
Some shoppers blasted the pharmacy chain and told them the term disabled is "not a dirty word" after the notice was erected at the branch in Norwich.
It showed the words "less abled parking" along with the symbol for wheelchair disabilities below the chain's logo.
Furious customers took to the internet to criticise the move, as one woman said: "Boots UK, seriously?
"The term "disabled" is not a dirty word. And the term 'less abled' is simply unacceptable."
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Another person penned "It's awful and I guess they thought it was better than disabled", while one man said: "Can't believe money was spent on this."
Angry customers on social media slammed the chain for erecting a sign which said 'less abled parking' along with a wheelchair symbol (Jam Press/Kekezza Reece)"I really hope someone from Boots UK steps up, owns up, apologises publicly and corrects this,"
Others however appeared puzzled by the negative reaction, as one man said: "Anyone can be offended by anything these days.
"Are we going backwards with addressing these words?"
The chain has since replaced the sign with one which instead calls it an 'accessible parking bay' (Jam Press/Kekezza Reece)
Boots has since replaced the sign with one which instead describes the spot as an "Accessible parking bay".
Responding to a post about the controversy on Twitter, the brand said: "Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
"We completely accept and understand that this wording is not appropriate and can confirm that we are working to change this signage as a matter of priority.
"We sincerely apologise for any offence caused; Boots has always aimed to be inclusive to all and we will always champion this."
Last month, a disabled woman claimed that she would have been 'left to die' after a late night fire alarm at a Premier Inn.
Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, who uses a wheelchair, was staying at the Premier Inn County Hall hotel near Waterloo in London, when the incident happened.
She told the Mirror she was assured that someone would come and get her if the alarm went off, but she claims no-one showed up and she had no way of contacting the front desk.
A Premier Inn spokesperson told the Mirror that they had apologised to Dr Barham-Brown over the incident, and said the fact that the building was listed and owned by a landlord placed constraints on the way they can operate the hotel.