Evelyn Tweed MSP has welcomed news that a £10 million fund for Changing Places Toilets will open at the start of 2025 and says the rural areas must not be overlooked.
Although the fund, confirmed by Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Minister Maree Todd in a recent Parliamentary debate, is much needed across Scotland, Ms Tweed says a large gap in provision persists across areas with lower population density, putting disabled people in rural areas at a disadvantage.
Changing Places toilets provide safe, spacious, and clean facilities, that are specifically designed to meet the needs of people with more complex care needs. They require certain equipment, including a hoist, a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, as well as plenty of room for a powered wheelchair and two assistants.
Access to Changing Places toilets can remove a huge barrier and enable anyone to socialise, travel, attend appointments, or go shopping regardless of their disability. Without these facilities many disabled people and their families face undignified or unsafe alternatives or are left unable to travel or go out.
Evelyn Tweed MSP is working to ensure that Changing Places toilet facilities are evenly distributed. The MSP highlighted gaps in rural Stirling and beyond in a recent Parliamentary debate on the topic and met with Maree Todd after the debate to continue discussions around provision in rural areas.
Ms Tweed said: “While changing places toilet provision could be improved everywhere, existing facilities are not evenly spread. Expanding provision and filling gaps will make a dramatic difference to access and inclusion, which is especially important for people living in rural areas. I’m pleased to see businesses and communities taking initiative across my constituency.
“Blair Drummond Safari Park has had remarkable success with their Changing Places facility which was put in place by the owners in 2017 after campaigners reached out to the park. It has made a significant difference to the experience of visitors to the site and allows many disabled people to enjoy a day out without worrying about accessibility.
“And it has been great to see the community in Tyndrum doing work in identifying a site, carrying out a feasibility study, and making necessary preparations for a changing places toilet in their area if funding can be secured.
“With these funds set to open by early 2025, it will be good to see what the criteria is for these new facilities so that the rural areas can start planning their bids. I will be asking Government to offer flexibility on the funding criteria given how much more expensive it is to build in rural areas, as they are often starting from scratch, with no prior building or structure to work with and contracts will cost more.
“I have joined the CPG for Changes Places toilets and will closely follow the progress of this project as we approach next year. I encourage local communities and businesses to look at the guidelines around planning Changes Places Toilets and get ahead in good time for the start of 2025.”
Sasha Muir from Blair Drummond Safari Park said: “Changing Places Toilets facility has made a real difference to our visitors. We have only received positive feedback and in fact most of our visitors with disabilities come because we have such facility. Our enquiry team are often contacted in advance to ensure that the Safari Park can accommodate visitors with special needs. Having a Changing Places Toilet has transformed our visitors’ experience. We strive to be as accessible as possible and we are proud that we can accommodate visitors with special needs.”
Maree Todd, MSP of Caithness, Sutherland & Ross and also the Minister of Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, said: “I was delighted to confirm again to the Scottish Parliament that we will open the £10 million changing places toilets fund early in 2025 and deliver it over two financial years: 24-25 and 25-26.
“The Scottish Government’s policy position on changing places toilets is absolutely straightforward. In our manifesto, we committed to investing £10 million over the parliamentary term, and we are doing that. We understand how important it is to invest in increasing the number of changing places toilets and in fact the new building regulations we introduced have led to an increase of more than 25% with 270 registered changing places toilets nationwide now. We are already making progress on the issue and we’ll make more with this funding.
“We also committed to supporting mobile changing places toilets to enable disabled people to access events and outdoor venues, and the Sottish Government looks forward to that commitment being delivered, too.”
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Community groups or businesses can find more information and guidelines on Changing Places toilets requirements here: www.changing-places.org
