New accessible changing facilities now available in Walsall’s Saddlers Shopping Centre

Thursday, 16 May 2024 17:30

As part of the ongoing programme of improvement works in Walsall Town Centre, new accessible changing facilities and toilets have been officially opened.

The new toilet block, situated in Saddlers Shopping Centre, will consist of a Changing Places (CP) facility, two parent and child facilities and two gender-neutral accessible facilities.

CP toilets provide sanitary accommodation for anyone with multiple and complex disabilities, allowing disabled people and their assistants to stay out for longer and participate in more activities.

The facilities are fully accessible with a height-adjustable changing bench and hand basin, a hoisting system and a peninsular toilet, with enough space for the disabled person, a wheelchair and two carers.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration at Walsall Council said, “These facilities are so important to those with additional needs, they will help people to get out and about and enjoy the day-to-day activities that many of us take for granted.

“We pledged to start delivering new public toilets in our town centre and district centres and this is the first step.

“We are proud to make the Saddlers Centre a more welcoming place for all with the opening of these safe and hygienic facilities.”

Mel Glasby, Centre Manager, Saddlers Shopping Centre, said, “Having modern, new facilities at the Saddlers Shopping Centre which are more centrally located and accessible to all is a great plus for us.

“We are committed to offering local Walsall people a clean and welcoming environment to visit and we enjoy hosting visitors and seeing them return week on week.”

Another CP toilet was opened at Bloxwich Library back in March 2024, thanks to funding by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK.

The facilities at the Saddlers Centre can be found at Bradford Mall, adjacent to the escalators from Park Mall. They are accessible via an intercom which connects to the Saddlers Centre’s main control room.

To find all changing place toilets across the UK, including Walsall, an interactive map can be found at https://www.changing-places.org/find

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