Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, has joined disability rights campaigners to call on the Government to make Changing Places toilets compulsory in new buildings to ensure that all people with disabilities can have access to a basic right – the use of a toilet.

Changing Places facilities come equipped with a hoist, adult changing bench, toilet and plenty of space for carers which are a necessity for people with physical and learning disabilities. Despite being vital to the sanitation and dignity of a quarter of a million people across the UK, there are currently only 1071 of these toilets available, with many towns lacking a single facility. In comparison, Wembley Stadium alone has 2618 toilets.

Justin said:

“In the UK in 2018 it is just not acceptable that people are finding themselves in positions where they are having to be changed on dirty toilet floors or in the back of cars. Some disabled teenagers and adults have little choice but to sit in soiled clothes or limit their time out of the house to a couple of hours at a time.

“How we design our public buildings is a choice we make, and it cannot be a justifiable choice to prevent someone from accessing the basic right of a toilet.

“I fully support the Changing Places campaign which will give dignity and freedom back to the disabled community and I hope the people of Ellesmere Port and Neston will join me in signing the Changing Places petition which can be found at:
https://www.change.org/p/change-building-planning-regulations-to-make-changing-places-toilets-compulsory?recruiter=39763582