Petitioning for what???

There is a petition doing the rounds at the moment that I can’t stand!

It is annoying the heck out of me simply because it should not exist!

Take a look at it HERE (and sign it whilst you have the page open).

That request might not make any sense when I don’t want it to exist but the reality is that this petition should not be necessary.

As it stands, the current Building Standards “recommend” that toilets with a hoist and bench (Changing Places toilets) should be installed in larger buildings and complexes.

These places include:

a) major transport termini or interchanges, e.g. large railway stations and airports
b) motorway services
c) sport and leisure facilities, including large hotels
d) cultural centres, such as museums, concert halls and art galleries
e) stadia and large auditoria
f) shopping centres and shopmobility centres
g) key buildings within town centres, e.g. town halls, civic centres and main public libraries
h) educational establishments
i) health facilities, such as hospitals, health centres and community practices.

Is that REALLY asking too much for them to be provided at these locations?

Nobody is asking for these facilities to be installed in a local café or farm shop!

People are asking for them at places where we all expect toilet facilities to be provided. At places where access to a toilet is a need most of us expect to be met.

When a new service station is being built the owner doesn’t question the cost of all the regular toilets they are installing.

With a theatre refurbishment or brand new cinema complex they don’t question the number of toilets they are told they need.

Toilets are simply a necessary expense.

Yet, a ceiling hoist and bench doesn’t have to add that much expense. At Cornwall Services they had a ceiling hoist and high end fully adjustable changing table installed for just £6,500 including the electrical work. It hasn’t been open a year yet but I am sure that they have already recovered their expenses in terms of increased customer spend. When we stop there, we eat, we buy drinks, I usually stop at their farm shop and I refuel my car at their fuel station. Before the facility was installed, I would have driven by.

Annual service and maintenance charges for a ceiling hoist is £190 with an additional £80 per year for service and maintenance of the basin and changing bench. Not really a prohibitive cost. I am also reliably informed by businesses which have installed the equipment that it does not cause them any insurance difficulties whatsoever!

So please take a look at the petition, sign it and share it.

Tell other people how awful it is that it exists.

Because nobody should have to petition to simply use the toilet.

 

 

 

 

 

“Outside
Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday

Published by Ordinary Hopes

Cape-less Crusader, changing the world one toilet at a time.

37 thoughts on “Petitioning for what???”

  3. I totally agree with you. Changing places should be mandatory in all major public spaces. It really wind me up how disabled toilets are not all the same size. Some are great with loads of room whereas some are too small to even turn around in. I’ve signed the petition. Hopefully in the near future they will take some notice of it.

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    1. A friend has asked a major cinema, which is building a huge new cinema complex near her, to provide a toilet with a bench and hoist when they build it. I have seen the plans, there is plenty of space. But they don’t want to do it. If these facilities were compulsory in big new developments, instead of just recommended, then life would steadily improve for disabled people.

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  8. Being disabled myself I totally understand and agree nobody should have to petition to use the toilet. I have had issues in upper my last one being at the theatre and it was not good enough.

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  10. I have already signed this, but just wanted to mention the Membury services M4 west bound, they Have a lovely changing places facility, the gentleman working there was very eager to show us and ask us if we needed to use it, he was very proud of the new facility, and so he should be. This will be our new place to stop when travelling along this route. Everything we could have needed. Well done All involved lovely changing room.

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  23. I don’t understand why, like you said there needs to be a campaign for an accessible toilet, they are a basic thing we need to access for a basic need. I am sad that the petition is needed. The costs are not huge and it does make such a difference. Keep pushing and thank you for linking to #KCACOLS and we hope to see you next Sunday x

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  25. I signed and shared this a while back. It was something. I had never actually thought about before but once highlighted to me I really was appalled at the thought of parents having to lie their child down on a floor to change them.

    Looking forward to the change happening. Please may it happen.

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  26. Pingback: Accessibility Stories 02.17 – our inclusive home

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