Fewer than five accessible toilets in York – campaigners call for more | York Press

THERE are fewer than five accessible toilets for disabled people to use in York, new figures show.

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This is not only in York, but throughout the UK.

To find Changing Places toilets look on https://www.changing-places.org/.

Many more are required as suitable toilets are very essential facilities.

Perhaps Building regulations should be changed so any new commercial buildings have to include not only male/female and disabled toilets, but at least one Changing places toilet, it will take time, but the numbers of toilets will increase.

But also more needs to be done in existing buildings as everyone has a right to use a toilet.

 

Source: Fewer than five accessible toilets in York – campaigners call for more | York Press

Toilet provision for men and women: call for evidence – GOV.UK

I welcome this consultation for currently I am unaware of any public toilets where I live in Sheffield, except those in some large stores, who are closed due to the lockdown, although there toilets in supermarkets, which in some areas are few and far between, especially in city centres.

Hoping this consultation will change the trend for many years, where public toilets have been closed. Was this down to finance and if so, was this due to the 10 years of austerity cuts imposed on Local Authorities by the past Conservative Governments?

We do have some Changing Places toilets, but again there is an insufficiency, which needs to be rectified.

 

Source: Toilet provision for men and women: call for evidence – GOV.UK

In Britain, it’s not just the train toilets that disabled people can’t get into | DisabledGo News and Blog

For the majority of us planing an outing is not that difficult, but when a disabled person and especially a disabled person using a wheelchair, this can be a minefield.

you need to double check everything and then you can not be guaranteed that all will go to plan. For all transport needs to be adequately accessible and so do the venues and this includes the toilets. What can be stated as being accessible is many times not correct. This may not be intentional by the transport providers and the venue operators, but mainly through their ignorance of the different aspects of disabilities and the varying requirements.

Even if all are suitably accessible will there be a sufficiency of the numbers available. Bus seating being only one example for there will only be one space available and this could be already taken by standing passengers or passengers with prams, who may be reluctant to move from a disability space and I believe that there is no lawful requirement for them to do so, just respect for the disabled person or persons.

Until there is a lawful requirement to provide full disability access and the educating of the Government, business and the general public there can be no full equality for people who are disabled, for the Equality Act is not sufficient.

 

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A few years ago I met friends at a restaurant that had been getting great reviews. I triple-checked that they had wheelchair access (their website made no mention of access) and was assured that they did. Google Street View – I’d checked – showed a mammoth step, but they promised me a ramp. The ramp, as I found when I arrived, was a hastily arranged plank of wood, which they were hoping to shunt me up. Failing that, the chef and waiters would carry me – Cleopatra-style, but without the dignity. “Don’t worry,” the manager said. “The chef is very strong.” Options limited, I reluctantly agreed.

Source: In Britain, it’s not just the train toilets that disabled people can’t get into | DisabledGo News and Blog

10 years of Changing Places – one toilet at a time! | Mencap

Source: 10 years of Changing Places – one toilet at a time! | Mencap