Issue - meetings

Cabinet are to receive a petition which seeks to install a changing space toilet facility in Melton Mowbray that can be accessible at all hours of the day, seven days a week.

That Cabinet:

Received and NOTED the petition which seeks to install a changing place toilet facility in Melton Mowbray that can be accessible at all hours of the day, seven days a week.

Before the petitions was presented, it was noted that petitions would usually go to a meeting of Council but only if they met the required threshold. On this occasion, the threshold wasn’t met and therefore it was decided that the Cabinet would address the petition on seeking to install a changing place toilet facility in Melton Mowbray that can be accessible at all hours of the day, seven days a week. It was clarified that a changing place toilet was a toilet which could accommodate a wheelchair and a carer.

Hannah O’Mara, Assistant Head Teacher at Birch Wood School addressed Cabinet and stated that through the petition, the signatories wanted to make a bigger impact upon access issues, with the biggest issue being having access to accessible toilets. Due to a lack of accessible toilets in Melton Mowbray, then trips  into the community had to be time limited.

It was explained that currently, there are only two changing place toilets in the town, one at Carnagie Museum, which is only available when the museum is open and the other at Mencap, which is difficult to use as there are safeguarding issues. It is for this reason that the petition seeks the installation of a changing places toilet which can be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Following a query raised regarding access, it was confirmed that the ideal solution would involve a secondary key, as radar keys are readily available. There would also need to be some education on how to access and use the facility.

Cabinet confirmed that since the petition had commenced, the plans for the Stockyard had been developed to include a changing places toilet. It was recognised though that additional locations for changing places toilet are required. Members hoped that the Town Estate would also provide a changing places toilet at the southern end of the town centre.

A discussion ensued regarding the opening time of the changing places toilet and it was confirmed that the facility should be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as shutting it at 6pm or 7pm would limit the ability of those who require such a facility to participate in society.

That Cabinet:

Received and NOTED the petition which seeks to install a changing place toilet facility in Melton Mowbray that can be accessible at all hours of the day, seven days a week.