Delight as new Changing Places toilet opens in Ilkley

An official opening ceremony was held on Monday for the facility at the South Hawksworth Street Car Park. Carers and people with disabilities now have the freedom and confidence to visit the town knowing there is a suitable facility nearby.

A Changing Places toilet has more space than a standard disabled toilet for equipment, the disabled person and their carer(s). It also has an adult-sized adjustable height changing bench, a peninsular toilet, a tracking hoist, which can safely transfer the disabled person onto the changing bench and/or toilet and a colostomy shelf. In addition, a Changing Places toilet has a privacy screen so that carers can use a toilet discreetly, but with the reassurance that the person that they care for is safe with them.

The interior of the new Changing Places toilet in Ilkley (Image: ITC)

Changing Places toilets cater for lots of people, including people with complex learning disabilities; people with physical disabilities; older people with mobility and/or cognitive issues or dementia; and people with cancer coping with colostomy bags.

Too often, because there aren’t enough Changing Places Toilets available, people with severe disabilities face the option of not leaving their homes, limiting fluid intake on days out, or having to be changed on dirty toilet floors. These are not choices people should have to face.

Members of special needs support group, LS29, who have campaigned for the facility, attended the official opening.

Julie, an LS29 support group parent said: "For us, Changing Places Facilities make the difference between going out and being house bound as my grandson gets older. He cannot be safely lifted and we have to return home whenever he needs changing."

Stacey, mum of Oliver, told us: "I'm looking forward to being able to come into Ilkley without worrying about where we are going to be able to change." Lisa explained: "We have two vulnerable children who need the specialist facilities that a Changing Place provides. It will be great to be able to have a full day out with all the extended family."

Bradford Metropolitan District Council led on the project and were successful in securing match funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for their Changing Places (CPT) Programme. Responsibility for the completed pod has been transferred to Ilkley Town Council.

The exterior of the new Changing Places toilet in Ilkley (Image: ITC)

Ben Oxlade-Parker, the Contract & Quality Manager for Early Help and Prevention at Bradford Council said: "Bradford Council, and partners, were successful in bidding for match funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) grant for their Changing Places (CPT) Programme. This has lead to four new and one refurbished Changing Place Toilet across the district at the following locations: Bingley, Bradford Industrial Museum, City Park, Ilkley Car Park and Wibsey Park.

"This programme was to provide additional facilities to enable further access to locations of cultural, leisure and community value, providing Changing Places Toilets for people where a standard disabled toilet would not provide the equipment required. CPTs allow people with severe learning and physical disabilities a safety of knowing that should they require it, there is a facility in the area that will provide them with comfort and dignity whilst they need changing, dressing or to use the toilet. Ensuring that more people can access their communities, no matter the severity of their disability."

Ilkley Town Council would like to thank the members of the LS29 Support Group and to acknowledge and thank Bradford Council and Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) for all their help and support.

Ilkley Town Mayor Damian Kearns said: “It’s fantastic to see these high-quality facilities now open and being used by residents and visitors. It means that visiting Ilkley is now a lot more accessible for disabled people and their carers.

“I’d like to thank all of the people involved, particularly the LS29 Support Group and Bradford Metropolitan District Council ward members, contractors and council officers who have all helped bring these plans into fruition, it really will make such a difference to the people who need these facilities.”

To find out more about Changing Places and how many Changing Places Toilets there are in the local area, visit: www.changing-places.org.