During a Debate in the Senedd this afternoon, Welsh Conservatives called on the Welsh Government “to provide a suitable funding mechanism and clear guidance to local authorities to ensure there is equitable provision of Changing Places toilets in every county in Wales”. Their motion was passed unanimously.
Leading the Debate, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, who last month challenged the First Minister over the shortage of ‘Changing Places’ in Wales, stressed that despite the Changing Places campaign being launched in 2006, the campaign for Changing Places Toilets is still ongoing today.
He said:
“Key to the delivery of the Equality Act 2010 is the availability of Changing Places Toilets, which go beyond the provision of standard accessible toilets and are designed so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or impairment, or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically.
“Speaking here in 2019 on the Changing Places campaign, I stated that although this was launched in 2006, I had just attended a Changing Places steering group meeting, focused on bringing Changing Places into the North East Wales counties, hopefully starting with the town of Mold – where a campaign for a Changing Places toilet in the Daniel Owen Centre still continues now.
“It was chaired by Kim Edwards, who herself has Friedreich's ataxia. She said that ‘the lack of current facilities means that disabled people don't go out’.
“It was then already 16 years since I had first heard this raised in this place, and yet people like Kim are still having to fight these campaigns 19 years later.”
Questioning the First Minister last month, Mr Isherwood highlighted action on the issue of Changing Places Toilets by North-East Wales group TCC, Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru - Together Creating Communities, and quoted them again in today’s debate.
He said:
“They say that, despite assurances regarding their provision over successive Welsh Governments, there are still only around 50 Changing Places Toilets in the whole of Wales”.
“Further, TCC state that the Welsh Government guidance issued to local authorities in Wales is not being followed consistently, and that the result to date has been disappointing.”
He added:
“TCC state that if, for example, ‘the Welsh Government could commit to at least match-funding one Changing Places Toilet per County, a national group purchase order could be secured at a rough cost of only £275,000, £25,000 each, equivalent to just over 1 pound per disabled person in the country”.
“The Social Model of Disability says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment, and the lack of basic facilities such as these are leaving people, disabled, trapped, isolated and dependant on others.
“I have even heard of parents of disabled children being issued changing mats by their Occupational Therapists to be used on the floor in a public accessible toilet.
“The lack of Changing Places is a social justice issue, a public health issue, a Local Government issue, a building regulations issue, and a disability rights issue – and I therefore call on members to support, and the Welsh Government to act, on our motion.”