Coventry City Council is set to open the first Changing Places toilet at Tesco Cross Point Business Centre.
It comes with support from government funding including the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, and Muscular Dystrophy UK.
It is after more than £140,000 of government funding was awarded to install new Changing Places toilets in the city to help improve lives of severely disabled residents.
The Council are one of 64 local authorities across the country to have secured the funding for the second time from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to install modular Changing Places toilets in the city by March 2024.
It consists of £7 million Government funding to build 120 new Changing Places toilets in England where they are most needed as part of the wider Changing Places scheme worth £30.5 million. The scheme is providing more than 600 new facilities, bringing the total of Changing Places toilets across England to 1,900.
Changing Places are toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities. They are fitted with specialist equipment such as a hoist and changing bench. They provide sufficient space for up to two carers to support the person with a disability to use the Changing Place. These toilet facilities will ensure that people with severe disabilities and their families or carers will not have to worry about whether there are suitable toilet facilities when they go out shopping, plan a day out or travel.
The first round of Changing Places funding in 2022 will see facilities installed at The Albany Theatre, Shopmobility and Tesco Cross Point.
The commitment to installing more Changing Places Toilets in the city is part of the Council’s commitment to improving the accessibility and inclusivity in our city for people with disabilities and their families. We know from what these communities have told us that access to retail and leisure facilities is so important for their physical and emotional wellbeing so providing adequate toilet facilities in these venues is a top priority.
Cllr Abdul Khan, Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities said:
“We are very proud that we have helped bring a Changing Places toilet to Tesco Cross Point as it will enable disabled people, their families, friends and carers to visit the facilities at Cross Point with dignity and increased confidence that suitable toilets are available.
“Whether you’re planning to watch a film, go Ten Pin bowling or enjoy a meal out at one of the restaurants – the Changing Places toilet located in the Tesco store is there for residents to use comfortably and with the peace of mind that the space and equipment required will be available.”
“I’d like to thank the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Muscular Dystrophy UK for their funding and support with this project.”
Chair of the Disability Equality Action Partnership (DEAP) and Transport Charter lead, Cllr Christine Thomas said: “Those with disabilities have been among those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic and we are committed as a council to ensure that the quality of life for these members of our community improves. Part of this commitment is working to break down and remove existing barriers and obstacles that many people with disabilities continue to face such as accessing toilet facilities when out in public places.
“A few more additional toilet facilities may seem like a small change, but it can make all the difference in terms of having an enriching impact on the life of a disabled person, both from an accessibility point of view and in terms of their mental wellbeing”.
“The Disability Equality Action Partnership (DEAP) supports this initiative and all future work in making Coventry a more inclusive place to live so that disabled persons feel included in the planning of our city.”