Core Solution For Disabled Needs 'Away From Home'

A new Changing Places assisted accessible toilet is addressing local accessibility needs in the heart of England.

Solihull Council has opened the facility in The Core, the town’s former Central Library and Arts Complex building, refurbished as part of the Council’s strategy to co-locate and improve services for residents.

The Changing Places personal care facility compliments the existing wheelchair-accessible toilets. Giving more space, to accommodate the user and up to two carers, it also includes a height-adjustable changing bench and ceiling track hoist.

Supplied by Britain’s leading Changing Places company, Clos-o-Mat, and installed by GTH Construction, the additional equipment ensures people who need extra help with personal care can deal with their hygiene requirements comfortably and safely.

A Solihull Council spokesperson said, “ “The Core is Solihull’s flagship community building. It is home to a library, theatre, art gallery, café bars, Solihull Connect walk-in centre, a community advice hub, and a number of voluntary and community sector organisations. It’s really important that we accommodate the needs of all our visitors; the Changing Places facility enables visitors with disabilities to enjoys days out with their carers and families.”

The Changing Places toilet in The Core compliments another already in the town centre, in the nearby Touchwood Shopping Centre, also supplied by Clos-o-Mat. Adds Kelvin Grimes, Clos-o-Mat’s dedicated Changing Places project manager, “ Solihull has been rated the best place to live in England. With two new Changing Places in the town centre, it certainly ranks highly for accessibility.”

Under current Building Regulations, Changing Places toilets are ‘desirable’ in venues open to numbers of the public, and should be provided in addition to conventional wheelchair-accessible toilets. They give users more space- a minimum 12m²- and the equipment they need to hygienically deal with their personal care.

So far, over 800 Changing Places have been opened at venues throughout the UK.

Clos-o-Mat is the leading player in the supply and installation of Changing Places facilities. Its ability to deliver design advice, project management, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance across the ambit of accessible toileting equipment means it is uniquely positioned to provide a reliable, single source for the whole process. Further, its website www.clos-o-mat.com, is an essential reference point for anyone considering installing a Changing Places toilet, offering white paper, 2D and 3D CAD drawings, standard layouts, and video.