PEOPLE with disabilities that prevent them from using standard disabled toilets are to benefit from state-of-the-art new public conveniences in Redditch.
A ‘Changing Places’ is being brought to the town’s Kingfisher Shopping Centre through a partnership with Redditch Borough Council, and Redditch BID.
The new toilets are designed for people who cannot use standard disabled toilets, and come with additional accessibility equipment, such as hoists and adult-sized changing benches.
Redditch’s bid to the department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) was championed by local Paralympian Leanna Horne, and supported by Young Solutions, Myriad Centre, Spectrum Days, and Chadsgrove School, all of which work with disabled people in Redditch, as well as the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire.
Leanna said: “Redditch has wanted a facility like this in the centre for years, and it will now mean that people like me who go out and about with friends or a personal assistant can enjoy a day out without the added anxiety of how we are going to access the toilet.
“It’s a problem I’m delighted to see corrected in Redditch.”
The Kingfisher Shopping Centre’s general manager, Adrian Field, said: “We are delighted to be installing the Changing Places facility in the Kingfisher Centre for the use of visitors to Redditch.
“Toilet provision is such an important factor in where people go to and how long they visit and, through a brilliant collaboration of partners, we can collectively improve the experience for those who need what will be a superb facility.”
Redditch Borough Council leader, Coun Matt Dormer, added: “This is the latest example of one of Redditch’s great strengths, our local partnerships, uniting public, private, and community organisations to benefit the town.”
