Stratford-on-Avon District Council opens new Changing Places toilets

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has opened two new Changing Places toilets across the District, at Bell Court Shopping Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon and the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

It is after £190,000 of government funding was awarded to install new Changing Places toilets to help improve lives of severely disabled residents.

The District Council is one of 64 local authorities across the country to have secured the funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to install Changing Places toilets 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.  

Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Environmental and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio says: "We are very proud that we have been able to install a Changing Places toilet in Bell Court and at the Motor Museum, as it will enable disabled people, their families, friends and carers to visit the facilities at with dignity and increased confidence that suitable toilets are available. 

"They are there for residents and visitors to use comfortably and with the peace of mind that the space and equipment required will be available."

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.

Elizabeth Dixon, who runs Accessible Stratford says: "I am very pleased that there is now a Changing Places toilet in the town centre at Bell Court in addition to the existing one at the Leisure Centre.  This is an important and very necessary facility for many people with a mix of disabilities.  It is good that the government recognised the need and provided the funding to Stratford-on-Avon District Council that I assisted from the application and through to its completion. Thanks to everyone who assisted me to get this done!"

Both facilities have now been registered and are available on the Changing Places Toilets website. 

Bell Court unisex facility is open every day, Monday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm

Facility features

• Bench - height adjustable, adult sized, wall mounted
• Hoist - ceiling, loop, capacity - 200
• Peninsular toilet
• Washbasin height adjustable
• Non-slip floor
• Floor space (sq. m) - 18.5
• Emergency alarm
• Privacy screen
• Paper roll
• Accessible shower
• Colostomy shelf
• Signage in the room
• Drop down grab rails
• Wall grab rails
• Large bin
• Door width (m) - 1.00
• Ceiling height (m) - 2.40

Rich Jones, Centre Manager of Bell Court, said: "We're delighted to be able to make Bell Court user-friendly and accessible to all and welcome this latest addition. Now people with profound or multiple disabilities can fully appreciate everything the shopping and retail space has to offer with the peace of mind that they won't run into any problems."

British Motor Museum, Banbury Road, Gaydon is open every day, Monday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm

Facility Features

• Bench - height adjustable, adult sized, wall mounted
• Peninsular toilet
• Washbasin height adjustable
• Non-slip floor
• Floor space (sq. m) - 12.0
• Emergency alarm
• Privacy screen
• Paper roll
• Accessible shower
• Colostomy shelf
• Signage in the room
• Drop down grab rails
• Wall grab rails
• Large bin
• Ceiling height (m) - 4.40

Emma Rawlinson, Family & Lifelong Learning Officer at the British Motor Museum, said: "This fantastic facility really does make the British Motor Museum a place for everyone. The Changing Places Toilet will ensure our site is more accessible and inclusive for visitors and groups with complex needs, who can now visit us without worrying about access challenges."