STUNELL TEAMS UP WITH TANNI GREY THOMPSON TO CALL FOR IMPROVED DISABLED TOILET FACILITIES

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Jun 2009

Andrew Stunell MP and Tanni Grey Thompson are calling for better access to Disabled Toilets

Local MP Andrew Stunell has joined forces with Mencap and 11 times Paralympic gold medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to celebrate Learning Disability Week and call for an increase in the number of Changing Places toilets available in the UK.

Changing Places toilets are toilets which have enough space for the person with a disability and their carers, and the right equipment including an adult sized height-adjustable changing bench and a hoist. Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. There are over 230,000 people who need to use a Changing Places toilet in the UK and yet only 85 Changing Places toilets are available.

A British Standard published earlier this year, recommended that Changing Places toilets should be installed in larger buildings and public buildings, however, this standard is not compulsory. Now Andrew Stunell has teamed up with Mencap to call on the Department for Communities and Local Government to amend the Building Regulations to make the provision of these toilets a legal requirement.

Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:

"We all take being able to go out to the shops or to our local leisure centre for granted and yet there are nearly a quarter of a million people whose lives are severely restricted by not having the right toilet facilities.

"It is certainly dangerous, unhygienic and undignified for anyone to have to be changed on toilet floors and this is why I am supporting Mencap's calls for a change to the Building Regulations so we can ensure the building of more Changing Places toilets.

"Introducing Changing Places toilets in key public places would make a dramatic difference to the lives of thousands of people, and I am calling on the government to do much more to support this worthy cause."

Leroy Binns, spokesman for Mencap, said:

"Without Changing Places toilets people with profound and multiple learning disabilities can't take part in the community like everyone else, which is unfair. We are delighted to have Mr Stunell's backing, and hope we can persuade more of his colleagues to support this important cause."

ENDS

To find the location of your nearest Changing Places toilet go to: www.changing-places.org/where