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15
Oct
Toilet for disabled people opens in Ripon after £175,000 rebuild
A project to create a toilet for disabled people visiting and living in Ripon has been completed.
The Changing Places facility at the city’s bus station toilet block is part of a £175,000 scheme to revamp the public conveniences.
The toilet can be used by people with limited mobility and complex needs and gives them greater accessibility. It includes a toilet, washing and changing area with room for two carers, a hoist system, a changing bed and screening to allow for privacy.
The work at the bus station conveniences also re-modelled the whole toilet block and refurbished facilities that were over 20 years old.
It now includes three women’s cubicles, two men’s cubicles and three urinals, and an accessible toilet as well as the changing places provision.
Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of North Yorkshire Council, which oversaw the project, said:
This new facility adds to our programme of investment in Changing Places provision across the county – we opened one in Pickering this summer and a Dales addition was opened last year. It is vital that we provide facilities for everyone to access whether visiting or living in North Yorkshire.
The £175,000 scheme benefitted from a £40,000 grant from the government's Levelling Up Fund and was installed in association with Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund was announced in November 2020 to fund schemes that benefit communities and support local economies.
Cllr Andrew Williams and Ripon Disability Forum trustee Stewart Aitkin in the changing places toilet Ripon
Ripon Disability Forum has been campaigning for the Changing Places facility.
Trustee Lynette Barnes said:
This is a much-needed addition to the city centre as we continue to work to make Ripon more accessible for residents and visitors alike. We are very grateful to North Yorkshire Council for making this happen.
Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservatives and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside division, added:
I very much welcome this investment in Ripon to deliver the Changing Places facility which will allow people to get out and about in the city and do things we all take for granted.
The entire scheme is a significant improvement to the toilet facilities and will, I am sure, be popular with local residents and our visitors.
Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Changing Places manager, Karen Hoe, said:
We were delighted to work with the local authority with the installation of this new Changing Places toilet at Ripon Bus Station and recognise the huge difference it will make to the community and those who are dependent upon them. It’s great to see a third one on the map for Ripon.
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