ESSENTIAL NEW CHANGING FACILITY LAUNCHES IN EXETER CITY CENTRE

Following major investment and refurbishment, a brand new adult changing and toilet facility, the first of its kind in Exeter, for people with profound disabilities will officially open on Tuesday 30th March 2010.
Funded by Devon County Council in partnership with Mencap and Land Securities, the new toilet and changing area located in the centre of Exeter at St Stephens House, Catherine Street features an electric hoist and changing table with enough space for a disabled person and two carers.
Devon County Council's Cabinet Member responsible for adults social care, Cllr Stuart Barker said, "Our aim is to help people with profound disabilities to lead ordinary lives and to be able to have the same choices and opportunities as other people.
"Carers of people with profound disabilities tell us that existing disabled access toilet facilities are inadequate for their more specialised needs. Everyday activities, such as shopping, can be extremely difficult because there is nowhere appropriate for carers to use.
"Therefore people are sometimes choosing not to go out, or they have had to return home after a short while. Some carers have even had to use the floors of public toilets as changing areas for people they are caring for, and this is unacceptable.
"Devon County Council is very pleased to support this much needed facility in Exeter, which will help ensure that people can enjoy a day out with greater freedom. We are also pleased to be funding similar facilities in Newton Abbot, Cullompton, and hopefully soon in Barnstaple."
A long running campaign by the Changing Places Consortium, supported by Mencap has been instrumental in highlighting the need for such a facility in Exeter.
Princesshay Operations Manager Andy Littlejohns said, “It was always our intention to create this much needed facility and we had already carried out basic preliminary investigations regarding the feasibility of converting our existing disabled toilet facility to a full blown Changing Places toilet. Therefore, when we were approached by Devon County Council Social Services and Mencap to see if there was anywhere we could create an adult changing facility we were able to move ahead and deliver the project quickly. We are delighted that all the works have now been completed and that seriously disabled people can come and enjoy the Princesshay shopping experience without having to worry about toilet access.”
The new toilet and changing facility, located in St Stephens House in Princesshay will officially open to the public on Tuesday 30th March.