‘Fantastic’ Government proposals for accessible toilets win parent’s praise

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS requiring shopping centres, stadiums and theme parks to provide ‘Changing Places’ toilets for disabled people have been welcomed by a parent at a special school in North Yorkshire.

Andrew Newton, a parent at The Dales School at Morton-onSwale near Northallerton, which caters for young people with severe and complex learning needs, was among those who alerted Richmond MP Rishi Sunak to the lack of accessible toilets in public places.

Conservative Mr Sunak, who earlier this year was appointed as Local Government Minister, announced a consultation will be launched next year on proposals that the essential facilities are included in all new large publicly accessible buildings and significant redevelopments.

Currently building regulations guidance only recommends Changing Places toilets, which are larger than standard disabled toilets and have extra equipment like adult-sized changing benches and hoists, are provided.

In addition, funding is being made available to help hospitals build more accessible toilets for disabled people to tackle a “shocking” lack of the facilities.

Mr Newton said: “This news is fantastic and is a great foundation for Changing Places becoming common.

“I hope that businesses will take proactive action and install a Changing Place as a matter of need for their patrons rather than a requirement through law.

“We have already seen Lightwater Valley near Ripon install a Changing Place after seeing the need and the Great Yorkshire Showground is in the final stages of building theirs.”