Work gets underway next week on the landmark Changing Places toilet in Ilkeston town centre thanks to a pace-setting project led by Erewash Borough Council.
The £36,000 specialist toilet will be within Midland Co-operative’s Ilkeston Co-op Department Store and will provide high-spec facilities for people with severe disabilities and their carers.
The Council joined forces with Midlands Co-operative Society to provide the toilet – which will be the only Changing Places toilet in a Derbyshire Market town and will enable severely disabled people and their families, friends and carers to visit and shop in Ilkeston town centre.
A decision to provide the facility within a town centre location was taken after the Council listened to representations by local people and follows a national campaign led by the Changing Places Consortium for more specialist toilets to be provided in public places across the country.
Changing Places toilets have space for profoundly disabled people and their carers and are fitted with specialist equipment that includes a height adjustable changing bench, a hoist system and privacy screen.
Councillor Geoffrey Smith, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, said:
“The Changing Places toilet will make such a difference to the many people, both young and old, who have serious or multiple disabilities and we are very proud to be working with the Co-operative Society to provide this facility in Ilkeston town centre. It is a great example of partnership working for the benefit of the community.”
His comments were backed by Councillor Barbara Harrison, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for the Environment:
“This specialist toilet will make a dramatic difference to the lives of some residents and visitors, giving them the independence and security they rightly deserve to visit and shop in Ilkeston town centre. I am pleased that Erewash is able to offer a dignified solution to the difficulties disabled people have faced for so long.”
Work on installing the Changing Places toilet on the first floor of Midlands Co-operative’s Ilkeston Department Store is due to start on Monday (25th) and is expected to take around three weeks.
Erewash Borough Council has funded the provision of the toilet and Midlands Co-operative Society will be responsible for hosting these specialist facilities - the first of their kind in any market town in Derbyshire.
