Campaigning for better public toilets for all

'Where Can I Go' : Campaign Vision

What’s needed?
  • An end to public toilet closures – authorities acceptance that use of a toilet is a basic human need and a Toilet Provision Strategy must be implemented in all towns and cities to ensure adequate facilities are provided
  • More clean hygienic publicly accessible toilets in all towns and cities throughout the UK
  • Inclusive facilities for all types of users where and when needed
  • Changing Places toilet in every major town and city
  • Independent audits to ensure compliance to standards , e.g. Loo of the Year Awards

‘WHERE CAN I GO?’       I’m old and I need to know that there will be a toilet available for me to go when I’m away from home.

Age Friendly Facilities

  • Adequate toilet facilities for the number of users at the location
  • Accessible facilities – no steps or steep inclines
  • Safe facilities – attendants on duty, well lit with exposed entrances
  • Facilities available when needed – not just 09.00 to 17.00
  • Larger cubicles available for the ambulant with wider cubicle doors
  • Shelves for bags and hooks for outer clothing
  • Door handles and locks easy to use and in good working order
  • Automatic or push taps
  • A warm, clean, nice smelling environment

 ‘WHERE CAN I GO?’      I have special needs and I need accessible facilities available to me that enable me to go when and where I need to on my journeys

DDA Compliant Accessible Facilities

  • DDA compliant access to the facility
  • Adequate space for the user and at least one carer
  • Planned to provide access to the WC, washbasin and all other facilities via a wheelchair
  • DDA compliant grab rails to door, beside WC and wash basin
  • Clean non-slip floor surface
  • Toilet tissue, hand washing and drying facilities
  • Shelf for bags and hooks for outer clothing
  • Sanitary and continence pad disposal
  • A warm, clean, nice smelling environment

 

Adult/Child Changing Facilities (for those with severe and multiple learning difficulties)

  • A minimum of 3.5m x 2m to provide space for the user and 2 carers
  • Separate from other able bodied toilets
  • Floor with non slip surface
  • Fitted with height adjustable adult sized changing bed
  • Fitted with a tracking hoist system
  • Fitted with a screen or curtain to provide privacy
  • A wide paper roll to cover the changing bed
  • Hand washing and drying facilities for carer
  • Shelf for bags and hooks for outer clothing
  • Sanitary and continence pad disposal
  • A warm, clean, nice smelling environment  

‘WHERE CAN I GO?’       I’m a young child or baby and I need family friendly toilet facilities so that I can be changed while I am away from home by a male or female parent or carer

Family Friendly Facilities

  • A dedicated unisex family toilet or both male and female facilities
  • Pushchair access
  • Clean and safe baby change surface
  • Nappy disposal
  • Child friendly décor
  • Low level WC and washbasin for children
  • Shelves for bags and hooks for outer clothing
  • Toddler seat
  • A warm, clean, nice smelling environment

‘WHERE CAN I GO?’        I have anxieties about using a toilet and I need a clean and hygienic toilet where I can go and feel safe

Safe discreet facilities

  • Female toilets with access separate from the male toilet access
  • Sound privacy - where feasible provide background sound
  • Visual privacy – install bowl urinals with privacy screens
  • Modesty screening between the urinal area and other areas e.g. wash basins, hand dryers entrance door (sizing…).
  • Cubicle walls and doors to ideally be floor to ceiling, but in default of that: floor gaps to be the minimum needed to facilitate cleaning
  • Secure cubicles – locks that work
  • Lighting that is soft in tone
  • A warm, clean, nice smelling environment

 The above criteria are those which form Best Practice Advice from the BTA