The mother of a boy with autism has told the BBC she is disappointed with the decision to remove free entry for parents and carers of children with disabilities at Peppa Pig World.
The broadcaster reported that Paultons Park, which is home to the Peppa-themed rides, previously offered a free essential companion ticket alongside a full-priced ticket for any visitor requiring additional assistance.
However it said the park, based in the New Forest, has now rescinded the offer, and will instead charge carers 50% of the usual ticket price to enter the park.
A spokesperson for Paultons Park told the BBC the decision to bring in the change had been made “under deep consideration”.
Katie, who has an essential companion ticket with her five-year-old son Edward, said the change was “just not affordable”.
She told the BBC she has an annual pass, and takes her two children to the park every other weekend.
She said: “We might pop up over the weekend, but sort of do an hour, which is enough for Edward because he is the sort of child that can get very overstimulated very quickly.”
Katie said she only found out about the proposed changes from a friend and she was “disappointed in the company” for not communicating the policy.
She said: “I think had we been informed earlier on in the season that it was going to change, there would have been some time to sort of accept it.”
She added that the removal of the free ticket would mean the pass will now cost around £400, meaning the family could not renew: “I’m a working mum of two special educational needs children and I can’t afford that.”
A spokesperson for Paultons Park told the BBC the decision to bring in the change had been made “under deep consideration” and was “not introduced lightly”.
They added: “We wish to support as many disabled guests as possible to come and enjoy Paultons Park. The introduction of a 50% discount off the standard ticket price for essential companions enables us to continue to operate this scheme on a broad scope. “It is always our intention to communicate changes affecting our guests in as transparent and timely a manner as we can, and we apologise for not doing so on this occasion.”
