A wheelchair user has criticised one of Glasgow’s most prestigious music venues for its treatment of disabled people.

Louise McAllan has visited Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as both an able-bodied and disabled customer.

And she says the difference in her experience of gigs - and the treatment she receives - is unacceptable.

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The 34-year-old said: “My main point is that as a wheelchair user I don’t want any special treatment, I just want the same rights as everyone else - to be able to attend a concert and have a seat with no restricted view, to be able to go at short notice without having to organise it in advance and have special arrangements made for me and seats specially removed.

“The Concert Hall seems to think a person in a wheelchair is somehow exceptional and actually they - we - should be the norm, just like anyone else.”

Louise said she often visited the Concert Hall for workshops,Celtic Connections, classic concerts and folk music gigs.

But her three visits as a wheelchair user have left her extremely disappointed.

On December 19 last year, Louise complained after attending the RSNO’s The Snowman where the Raymond Briggs film is played on screen and the orchestra performs the score.

Her family were seated in the main auditorium while she was placed in an accessible area at the side of the stage with her husband in a seat behind.

A photograph of her view of the stage supplied by Louise shows she could only see a tiny portion of the screen and little of the orchestra while there was a barrier at eye level.

Louise said: “I complained and at the interval the Assistant Manager came and spoke to me and the other three wheelchair users and companions in the area.

“The other three wheelchair users were young people with a parent, and they told me that the same thing happens every year.

“Nothing is done despite this being a known problem.”

Louise also went to see group Lau and the Unthanks on February 2 this year and was placed in the same seating area with the same problems.

But, she said, the most “distressing” situation came on October 20 at a performance of Da Capo Alba she attended with her brother, his partner and her niece.

Staff members gave the wrong information about where the family should go and a male staff member spoke only to Louise’s brother, ignoring her.

Louise said: “The man was extremely rude, telling us to leave, speaking to my brother and completely ignoring me. In the end we remained where we were as we had paid a lot of money and the performance had started.

“They suggested I should have booked in advance, something which is not required of any of the able bodied patrons, and as I was able to purchase a ticket at the door this is unreasonable.

“Now seeing that The Snowman tickets are on sale again with the same restricted view I can see the Concert Hall is doing nothing to change this.

“The fact that I have used this facility as an able bodied person and a wheelchair user, I think makes it all the worse.

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“I do know wheelchair users who say they just put up with it - but they shouldn’t have to.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: “We are in contact with Ms McAllan and her family about the issues they have raised, and are looking into how best we can address them as soon as possible.

“Glasgow Life is committed to our venues being accessible for all.”