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17 Aug 2004 >> Westlife aim to cheer fan 17 Aug 2004 >> Westlife aim to cheer fan

Irish boy band Westlife have promised to send a Wonford boy a signed programme of their Powderham Castle gig to make up for the misery he suffered there on Monday evening. Jake Pyle, nine, who has Downs Syndrome, was one of around 50 wheelchair users who were given a special platform from which to watch the concert.

But Jake's mum Donna, of Shakespeare Road, Exeter, was fuming with the disabled arrangements, saying they were a "complete shambles".

She said dozens of wheelchair users were turned away from the enclosure because of a lack of space.

A spokesman for the four-piece Irish group has now promised to send Jake, his brother Jamie and sister Gemma signed programmes.

According to Mrs Pyle, there was only room for about 30 users and their carers. But she says there were at least 50 vying for a place on the special stage.

Mrs Pyle said: "There were about 50 or 60 wheelchairs trying to get on. It was crammed to capacity. You could not move. The platform was absolutely jam-packed.

"They were having to turn physically and mentally disabled people away and they were crying. It was disgusting.

"I talked to one of the organisers. He said there was nothing they could do. I feel let down. When I rang up for tickets they told me we would be 50 yards away from the stage. We were about 150 yards away.

"They were not organised and did not have a big enough ramp.

"There was just one ramp for going up and down and a lot of people had to use it to go to the toilet. Everyone had to move anytime anyone wanted to get off.

"The stewards were also letting able-bodied people use the disabled toilets.

"At one point there were two coach loads of disabled people coming in. They had to go into a specially cordoned off area.

"They were just not prepared."

Mrs Pyle is particularly angry because she spent more than ?00 on souvenirs and food while at the concert.

Jake Duncan, Westlife's tour manager, said: "We are obviously concerned to hear that. The guys would be sorry to hear something like that. We just show up and everything is already prepared for us.

"I was surprised to see that the platform was not raised off the ground.

"I remember thinking, why can't they have it raised a couple of feet higher. It wouldn't have been in anyone's way."

Tim Faulkner, manager of Powderham Castle, said: "I am sorry. We do the best we can. Disabled people did have their own toilet arrangements and security."

Source: Express & Echo



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