Rose Hunt, Development Worker, Herefordshire Mencap, says there needs to be a 24-hour accessible toilet in Hereford (From Hereford Times)

Rose Hunt, Development Worker, Herefordshire Mencap, says there needs to be a 24-hour accessible toilet in Hereford

3:00pm Sunday 13th May 2012 in Letters

I REFER to Jo Lofting’s letter (Readers’ Times, April 19) about the lack of toilets for disabled people, which ended with her plea to the Edgar Street Grid developers for a Changing Places toilet to be included in the development.

In that same issue, Jesse Norman MP states that the city will receive a real economic boost with local people benefiting from new retail, entertainment and higher education opportunities.

Herefordshire Council leader John Jarvis also stated that the passing of the plans heralded a great day for the city and for future generations of Hereford people (Hereford Times, April 19).

Let’s make it a great day for all people.

Disabled people who require a higher level of toilet facility will be unable to access all of the above opportunities if one, ideally two, Changing Places toilets are not included.

Herefordshire Mencap has been campaigning for several years for such facilities. Yes, there are toilets in both Hereford and Leominster swimming pools, brought about by lobbying from Herefordshire Mencap, and at three day centres in Hereford city.

But there needs to be a 24-hour accessible toilet in a central position to truly call Hereford an inclusive city.

In her letter, Jo talks about the dirty accessible toilets available currently, due very much to Radar keys being easy to come by. If John Jarvis, the developers or the planners care to contact me, I can let them know of the many ways that Changing Places toilets can be kept secure and available only to people who need them.

The 400th Changing Places toilet is now about to be opened.

Herefordshire needs to be a true partner in this campaign by announcing the plans for the 401st and 402nd.

ROSE HUNT, Development Worker, Herefordshire Mencap.