"Frankly when you're in politics and do jobs like I have done you put out ideas and launch initiatives that don't get off the ground"
This is the mantra I am going to use to justify posting ideas on this blog, what's the worst that can happen? the idea doesn't get off the ground.
You wouldn't go barefoot in a public toilet?
No?
So why is okay that disabled vulnerable children & adults are changed on public toilet floors ? Their lives and dignity matter.
Imagine having to change your son, daughter or partner on the floor of a public toilet.
Imagine how you would feel if you were that person on that floor. Sadly there are thousands of disabled people and families who do not have to use their imagination. For them this is a daily occurrence.
Standard accessible toilets meet the needs of some disabled people - but not all. Over 230,000 people in the UK need personal assistance to use the toilet or change continence pads, including people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, spinal injuries and people living after a stroke.
Without appropriate facilities, carers are forced to change continence pads on public toilet floors or wait until they go home. This is unhygienic, undignified and unacceptable!
Specialist toilet and changing rooms enable people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their carers, assistants and families to enjoy days out. Enjoying time together shopping, visiting attractions, enjoying outdoor events or just spending time together
My suggestion is create a Community Interest Company to take on the day to day running of the public toilets in the Castle Grounds and take on the building as a lease (to be negotiated) with TBC. Once this is secured an extension of 5 x 12 m is to be built on the western elevation of the building to facilitate 2 family changing rooms catering for adults with extra needs (including stroke victims, the disabled, those with dwarfism etc) baby changing and those who need to be accompanied. Increasing the capacity of the baby changing facilities as well as providing adult facilities. The building would also house a small ‘shop’ selling essentials for those caught short supplying nappies, wipes, pads etc, as well as providing a First aid post.
Each of these rooms will include 2 toilets at different levels, 2 sinks at different levels, a host, adjustable changing table, shower, privacy screening within the room, wet room flooring, waste bins, shelving for bags etc as a minimum. It is envisaged that the 2 family rooms could also be used for emergency triage and so 2 full first aid kits will be available along with a community Defibrillator.
With regards services, the build will need improvement to energy efficiency and improved use of natural lighting where possible, the 2 rooms themselves will need to have underfloor heating to maintain temperature for people getting undressed and redressed without drafts etc.
It's something I doubt a lot of people have thought about let alone care about. People only tend to care when it affects them directly and we are pretty much all likely to be guilty of that. Public toilets or lack of is a problem generally, services people would expect are just not there anymore with the answer given that the financial climate is to blame. Well what the heck happened to all the money? Government income never really decreases does it? So why are people going short of basic needs and losing their dignity in the process? I'm not a socialist by any means but when you think of governments caring for people and that this has pretty much just disappeared thanks to supposedly 'some bankers' and a 'global financial crisis' it makes me sad and it stinks.
ReplyDeleteThis project will be good for the castle grounds, longer opening hours with no extra cost to the council tax payer. It gets my vote
ReplyDelete