The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Charities back call for more accessible toilets
Charities have backed calls for more Changing Places Toilets to be built in Peterborough city centre.
The Peterborough Unlimitedcampaignhassaidmoreof the accessible toilets are neededtohelpdisabledvisitors,and parents with young children.
The only Changing Places toilets are at Car Haven. Peterborough City Council recently secured funding to upgrade the disabled toilets at St Peter's Arcade, but this would still be a long distance for visitors to get to if they are visiting Queensgate.
Campaigners will be outside the Town Hall in Bridge Street on Saturday, June 25 to raise money for the new facilities which could cost up to £60,000.
Alison Kerry, head of communications at disability equality charity Scope, which has a shop in Peterborough, said: “Having a centrally located Changing Places facility will be such an important and welcomeadditiontoPeterborough’s city centre. It will make theworldofdifferencefordisabled residents and visitors.
“Manydisabledpeoplehave to make hard decisions about where they can visit based on accessibility. The harsh reality is, if there aren’t suitable, accessibletoiletfacilitiesnearby, they have no choice but to go elsewhere to shop, socialise and spend their money.
“Disabledpeoplehaveacollective spending power of approximately £245 billion per
year. Businesses and amenities in Peterborough can enjoy a slice of this Purple Pound if
the city centre and its facilities are accessible.”
Steve Conway, CEO at DeafblindUK,whichhasitsheadoffice
in Peterborough, said: “It isshockingandheartbreaking toseethatlocalresidentsdon’t feel comfortable using Peterborough’s city centre because of its lack of accessibility.
“Everyone should have the opportunitytousepublicfacilitiesregardlessofanydisability or health condition that they might have.”
Nazreen Bibi, CEO of Alpha Autism Care, said: "Changing Places toilet facilities in Peterborough city centre would not only benefit disabled people but would also encourage more footfall to the city centre and hence help local businesses to thrive.
“Appropriate disabled toilet facilities are in line with basic human rights and Equality Actlegislation-it'sashamethat people must fundraise whilst disability rights legal frameworks are disregarded by the powers that be.”