Scotland’s
leading shopping and leisure destination- Silverburn in Glasgow- is ensuring it
can be enjoyed by even more people, with the unveiling of new accessible
facilities.
The 1million ft2 venue is the latest to open a Changing
Places. Executed by Closomat, Britain’s leading provider of such accessible
toilets, the new room means anyone who needs the help of a carer for their
intimate hygiene now has appropriate facilities whilst at the centre.
Disabled
visitors and their carers can therefore relax and enjoy as much time there as
they want, without having to curtail their trip because of lack of suitable
toilets.
Provided in
addition to conventional wheelchair-accessible toilets, and accessed via RADAR
key, the Changing Places has more space, and additional equipment- including a
ceiling track hoist, adult-sized height adjustable changing bench, height
adjustable washbasin, shower, and privacy screen. It forms a key part of
improvements at Silverburn, including refreshed, eco-friendly male and female
toilets, a parent & child changing room, and a prayer/quiet room.
Explains David
Pierotti, Silverburn’s General Manager, “We want to make an environment where
customers can come and shop, and feel at ease, whatever needs they may have.
Some 20% of Scotland’s population is disabled, so it is important to us to
ensure we provide all the facilities necessary to ensure our doors are open to
all- hence the addition of the Changing Places.”
Local campaigner
for Changing Places Laura Rutherford adds, “Thank you Silverburn! Now my family
can go shopping, have a meal, go to the cinema, and relax, knowing there are
suitable toilets for Brody. Without the Changing Places, a trip out like that
just isn’t possible: we have to make outing short, or face having to lie Brody
on the toilet floor to change him.”
Under Building Regulations and British Standards, a Changing Places
should be provided in any facilities to which numbers of the public have
access, and/or spend a length of time. The latest BS8300:2018 specifically
itemises large commercial retail premises as a target location.
Closomat is Britain’s leading provider of helpful toileting solutions,
at home and away, including Changing Places and their similar Space to Change
facilities. Uniquely, the company 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.
