AS a recent visitor to Whittlesey, on August 1 this year I was taken by a friend to the Causeway Diner and witnessed the event that has sparked the reaction from previous correspondents, although I was not present on the occasion when the family were refused entry, which I now believe was a few days later.

AS a recent visitor to Whittlesey, on August 1 this year I was taken by a friend to the Causeway Diner and witnessed the event that has sparked the reaction from previous correspondents, although I was not present on the occasion when the family were refused entry, which I now believe was a few days later.

I presume Heidi Dungate is referring to the incident on August 1 and it is with this that I would like to add comment.

Firstly I have every sympathy for anyone who has an autistic child but any child, autistic or not requires a measure of discipline and parental control when taken to public places. Sadly during my stay in that diner I did not witness either.

Perhaps I arrived too late but I did not witness any child being taken outside and I certainly was not aware during my stay of any attempt not to disturb other diners.

I witnessed no one staring at any child and did not hear the mother question other diners as to why they were “looking over”. I can only presume this had occurred before I arrived. Some people prefer to avoid confrontations and have every right to “stare down into their teacups”.

Our experience due to the noise level that lunchtime was so bad we very nearly walked out before ordering our meals. Shame on me? I think not!

Shortly afterwards the family left and I heard more than one customer state that their meal had been spoiled and if they the family) were to be present in the diner again they, “the ignorant public”, as your correspondent describes them, would go somewhere else.

Under such circumstance what is the owner of the diner to do?

I have no affinity with the owner and I probably won’t ever visit there again but there are two sides to every story and I just wanted to make known my version of events on that day.

There are no winners and losers in unfortunate incidents like this and I agree it is wrong that children should suffer as a result. Perhaps better communication previously between the mother and owner of the diner might have avoided the confrontation that followed. I really have no answer but felt obliged to point out what I heard and saw.

JENNIFER SMITH

Derby Road

Nottingham