LACK OF LOOS FORCES FAMILIES OUT OF TOWN CENTRES
People with disabled relatives angry they have to travel miles to go shopping
What would you do if you had to travel miles to go to the toilet to avoid soiling yourself, or having to be changed on a dirty toilet floor or in the back of a car Coun Clare Golby
FAMILIES of severely disabled relatives say they can’t shop in Nuneaton or Bedworth town centres because of a lack of specialist toilets - leaving them having to travel miles for suitable facilities.
Neither town has ‘changing places’ facilities, which have specialist equipment for severely disabled people, with the nearest either being in Hinckley town centre or at Corley Services on the M6.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough councillor Clare Golby highlighted the difficulty this poses to families after being contacted by one in her Arbury ward, saying: “What would you do if you had to travel miles to go to the toilet to avoid soiling yourself, or having to be changed on a dirty toilet floor or in the back of a car.
“That’s the choice which some people who live or visit our borough face.
“Specialist disabled changing facilities are not like standard disabled toilets.
“People with profound disabilities, either physical or mental, often need extra specialist equipment like a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, a hoist and space either side for two carers to allow them to use toilets safely, comfortably and with dignity. “We do not have a single public facility like this in our borough.” She asked if the council could use some of the money given by developers, via a section 106 agreement, when new housing estates are built, to enhance facilities at the two public toilets that are set to close, one in Mill Walk in Nuneaton and the one in Chapel Street in Bedworth . It sparked a hot debate, with accusations of electioneering, which were vehemently denied and Coun Kris Wilson, leader of the opposing Tories, tabled a motion that the council instruct officers to investigate if developer money could be used to pay for the facilities. “It is a policy we want to look at in the future,” he said. “I suspect that there are back benchers over there (Labour) who would support this but would not want to be seen doing this in the run-up to an election. “Let’s look at doing the right thing for our residents, if you really care, vote for it.” Coun Dennis Harvey suggested that the full council meeting was not the appropriate place to look at the issue. “Many of us sympathise with the situation, and we would want it looked at in the future, but this is not the correct way of dealing with it,” Coun Harvey said. Coun Clare Golby addressed accusations of electioneering, saying: “It is not about elections, I am not up for elections, this question has come from my residents. You walk in to the town centre and you won’t see many severely because they disabled cannot come people, here due to the lack of facilities, they are neglected. “I don’t care who takes credit for this, I just want it done. The fact have is the that basic our residents dignity of do using not the Coun toilet.” Sam Margrave said it was the council an issue to that investigate he has in asked the past while Coun Keith Kondakor said that it should have been looked at when the council was formulating its Borough Plan, which is the blueprint for all future development across the two towns. Coun Bob Copland said: “It is an extremely serious matter and it is a much, much needed facility I have not got a problem that this council, in whatever way, looks at this issue. “Let’s get out heads together and let’s see how we can achieve this facility.” Coun Ian Lloyd added that while he too supported the idea, the best place for the discussion would Coun be at Harvey a scrutiny moved meeting. an amendment to the original Tory motion, saying that a report is collated by council officers and that it is discussed at the first meeting of the relevant scrutiny panel after the elections. Coun Kris Wilson said they were happy to welcome the friendly amendment and it being given unanimous support.