A charity which works with those affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Flintshire constituents affected by this illness and other continence problems have hit out at Flintshire County Council for failing to improve the provision of publicly available toilets to accommodate them.
In January, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood wrote to all the local authorities in North Wales on behalf of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, highlighting the crucial need for easy access to toilets for public use for those affected by these conditions.
In his response from Flintshire, Leader of the Council Aaron Shotton refers to the Strategy for Public Conveniences which will be required by the forthcoming Public Health Bill and the Council's attempts to provide at least one public convenience facility in each town within the County.
He states: “The facility will be provided either by a dedicated Council run facility, one Town and Community Council operated facility, a facility within a County Council building or finally a private facility available to the public.”
Crohn’s and Colitis UK and Flintshire constituents are pleased the response recognises the need for more oversight and coordination of toilets and ensuring access to toilets across the Council, but are disappointed that it “does not touch on the requirement for an assessment of local need for toilets nor consultation with the relevant stakeholders”.
Mr Isherwood said:
“Crohn’s and Colitis UK and Flintshire residents with continence problems are not happy with the response and I have therefore sent a further letter to Flintshire Council highlighting their concerns.
“What they are most concerned about is that the Council seem to be closing current toilet provision, only to seek to re-provide access to toilets for public use in places that already have toilets such as Council buildings and local businesses. Whilst utilising current toilet capacity to the maximum and opening up toilets in these building for use by the public is welcome, Crohn’s and Colitis UK are very clear that this process should add to current capacity and should absolutely not be at the expense of current public toilets. Any new provision of toilets must be in addition to and not substitute any current public provision and is not an opportunity or excuse to close current public toilets.”
“Constituents have said Mr Shotton “appears not to have fully acknowledged some of the difficulties people with IBD or other particular continence problems have on a daily/hourly basis,” and are concerned about restricted opening hours at council buildings.” Mr Isherwood has urged Cllr Shotton to give this matter his further attention and to confirm his intended course of action.
He added:
“For those living with IBD, debilitating symptoms like diarrhoea and tenesmus, a constant urge to have a bowel movement, can occur instantly and unpredictably so quick access to suitable toilet facilities is absolutely crucial either to prevent, or take action, should an accident occur in public.
“Understandably, these incapacitating symptoms are accompanied by a continuous anxiety about suddenly needing the toilet and having very little time to find one. Experiencing an episode of incontinence in public is profoundly embarrassing. For many individuals, the result is a devastating impact on their ability to engage in regular activities away from home such as going to work, shopping or socialising.
“The Welsh Government’s Framework for Action on Independent Living states ‘The key message is that it is not impairment that prevents people from achieving a reasonable lifestyle, but restrictive environments and disabling barriers’. As I have highlighted in my letter to Mr Shotton, this has cross-Party support and was campaigned for by the Cross Party Group on Disability, which I Co-Chair, working with Disability Wales. Access to toilets for people with these conditions is essential and Flintshire County Council should be doing everything it can to ensure that they have it.”