Helping hand New facility for disabled opened near park
CHILDREN with different needs will be able to play in comfort after Cheltenham’s first outdoor Changing Places disabled toilet facility opened in Pittville Park.
The facility can be found near to the children’s playground and refreshment kiosk.
Changing Places toilets are designed specifically for use by people with complex disabilities and provide the three elements key to helping improve accessibility for these people within their community.
The facility, which has been funded by Gloucestershire County Council’s disabled children and young people’s short breaks capital grant, includes an electric ceiling hoist, shower, height adjustable changing table and wash hand basin, toilet and alarm and is accessed using a RADAR key. The opening times will be the same as the other toilets in the park. Opening times are 7.30am (Aprilseptember) and 8am (October-march) and closing from 7.15pm (April to September) and 4.30pm (October to March).
The Changing Places Consortium has registered this facility and has been added to the national database. Councillor Chris Coleman, the council’s Cabinet member for clean and green, said: “We have worked closely with local disability support groups to ensure that this new Changing Places toilet meets the needs of our vulnerable people. “This is a much-needed facility within the park which will help a number of adults with personal care needs and children with disabilities.
“We are delighted that this muchneeded facility will now be open in Cheltenham’s glorious Pittville Park.”
The council has also been working to identify a second location for a Changing Places facility within Cheltenham town centre, which is likely to be located close to The Brewery Quarter. Research has found that over a quarter of a million severely disabled people, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities do not have access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs.