A citywide programme to make Leicester accessible to all visitors has taken a major step forward with the opening of a state-of-the-art Changing Places toilet at the new Haymarket Bus Station.
The £13.5million regeneration of the city’s main bus station has created a modern, comfortable environment with an attractive concourse building replacing the collection of 1990s bus shelters that previously stood on the site. Among the key features of the new building is the new Changing Places toilet, supplied and fitted by Closomat.
The new Changing Places toilet at the bus station is wheelchair accessible and offers a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a celling track hoist, and plenty of space for carers. This latest facility brings the number of Changing Places toilets in Leicester / Leicestershire to 20.
Kay Wyeth, Changing Places project lead at Leicester City Council, said:
The city council is making significant investment in the regeneration of Leicester, and the Changing places programme is a key part of that.
Knowing that there are fully accessible toilets available in the city centre means that families don’t have to limit outings to a few short hours, and instead can enjoy a day out without worrying about such a basic need.
That’s why the inclusion of a Changing Places toilet was such an important element of the regeneration of the city’s main bus station. To our knowledge, no other city outside of the capital has as many Changing Places in either its centre, or surrounding areas.
The new Haymarket Bus Station is also completely level access, and pavements surrounding the bus station have been widened, and block-paved. The bus station also incorporates the Shopmobility centre, which offers free loans of scooters and wheelchairs to disabled visitors.
Under current regulations, it is desirable for Changing Places toilets to be installed in any building to which members of the public have access.
Closomat is Britain’s leading provider of disabled toilet solutions, in people’s homes, and in public environments. It is also the biggest supplier and installer of Changing Places toilets – and has installed the majority of the 20 facilities in Leicestershire.
Uniquely, Closomat can provide an in-house, ‘one- stop-shop’ complete package for ‘away from home’ assisted accessible toilet facilities, from design and commissioning, through to project management, supply and installation, and can also provide subsequent maintenance and repair.
