Changing Places Public Consultation

Overview

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have drafted a Changing Places Policy, which includes the following:

• Priority locations for CPTs, including outdoor sites, to ensure reasonable coverage

•  The provision of a portable CPT at Council led large events

•  Promotion of CPTs with local businesses and communities

Changing Places Toilets (CPT) meet the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.

Why your views matter

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is consulting with key stakeholders and the public to gauge opinion on the Changing Places Policy, to ensure our commitment to Changing Places in the Borough meets the needs of those who require additional equipment and/or space to use a toilet or change in a dignified and hygienic manner.

Our Policy works alongside the amendments made to Building Regulations in Technical Book R (AMD 8).

Council is committed to its equality and good relations duties as set out under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Rural Need Act 2016 and as part of this consultation we would like to ensure that individuals, groups and organisations have every opportunity to express their view.

Please refer to Councils privacy statement included in this survey.

What happens next

We Asked

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council had drafted a Changing Places Policy, which included priority locations for Changing Places Toilets, the provision of a portable Changing Places Toilet at events, and promotion of Changing Places Toilets with local businesses and communities.

Changing Places Toilets meet the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.

Council consulted with key stakeholders and the public to gauge opinion on the Changing Places Policy, to ensure our commitment to Changing Places in the Borough meets the needs of those who require additional equipment and/or space to use a toilet or change in a dignified and hygienic manner.

You Said

There were 36 responses received.

• 100% of respondents agreed with the need for a Changing Places Policy
• 94% of respondents agreed with the proposals included in the Changing Places Policy

Some responses included additional comments and suggestions, thank you for this feedback:

You welcomed the policy and any subsequent improvements to facilities, and you said that access to Changing Places Toilets was very important to you when leaving home.  

You highlighted that, in addition to the activities listed in the draft, these facilities are also important for people to access education, training and employment, and participation in public life.

You said that cleanliness, regular maintenance and servicing, extended opening hours and security were all priorities.  Suggestions included increasing promotion and information sharing.  The needs of people in rural areas was also raised as a concern.

You questioned whether Council’s commitment was sufficiently progressive.

You recommended that we make use of the mobile changing places facility, or that we add temporary changing places structures to existing buildings, where changing places toilets are not currently available.

You gave us feedback about events, consulting with families and access to other services and facilities in Council buildings.

We Did

Officers reviewed the comments and your recommendations are being shared with the relevant departments.

Amendments were made to the policy to include users accessing all forms of public life, and the need for Changing Places Toilets to be in close proximity to existing staff for security and cleanliness.

We will continue to consult on issues like play park provision and access through both the Consultation Hub and less formally with facility users.

We will ensure the Changing Places website remains up to date about our equipment and opening times.  The Inclusive page on Council’s website will also continue to have links to this site.  We will promote our Changing Places Toilets both via the usual media channels and through stakeholders.

Access and inclusion remain important to us and we will strive to improve provision for all our residents.