Changing Places For Transport Buildings

Introduction

Changing Places for transport buildings has been a key focus area for campaigners and the government for several years. Despite great steps being made to make our transport network more inclusive, there are still nowhere near enough Changing Places toilets available across the network.

One area where improvements have been made is at motorway service stations. In 2019, the Department for Transport made £2 million funding available to roadside services to install a Changing Places toilet. To date, over 20 toilets have been installed at motorway services but there are nearly 100 services in the UK, so more work needs to be done to make motorway travel accessible to more people.

Government research into Changing Places availability demonstrates that transport networks are one of the key locations users want to see more Changing Places facilities. Other locations included country parks and tourist attractions.

Changing Places For Transport Buildings

So, what is the big issue with travel and Changing Places? And what other transport locations, aside from service stations should we be installing more toilets?

Travelling any distance in the UK is currently difficult for people with profound or multiple disabilities simply because it’s difficult to access appropriate toilets whilst making a journey.

Forced to use standard disabled access toilets, or even worse, the floors at transport hubs, a lack of access to Changing Places toilets severely limits how far people can travel away from their homes without having to return, just to use the bathroom or for assistance with continence wear.

Installing more Changing Places in motorway services was prioritised by the government initially as most people with severe disabilities, and their families, are more likely to be travelling by private vehicle. Having the ability to stop on the motorway, knowing there is a safe, hygienic facility to use opens the motorway network up to many more individuals and their families.

Such families may simply want to travel further to enjoy simple things such as tourist attractions – something most of us can do quite easily, without having to worry about bathroom stops. Most of us don’t have to plan out or restrict where we can go based on where we can access toilets in a dignified way.

Key locations Changing Places are needed in the transport network include:

• Railway/bus stations
• Metro stations
• Transport hubs
• Motorway services
• Airports
• Ferry ports

Installing a large enough number of Changing Places in all these locations would enable so many more people to travel freely around the UK or even abroad. It would also make public transport, such as the rail network, more accessible to people with disabilities.