Changing Places Toilets Officially Opened

On Tuesday 3 September 2024 Councillor Elizabeth Daly, Chair of Mole Valley District Council(MVDC), formally opened Mole Valley’s two new Changing Places Toilets (CPTs), located in the Swan Centre in Leatherhead and St Martin’s Walk car park in Dorking.

CPTs are used by up to 250,000 people in the UK, to enable them to get out and about and enjoy the day-to-day activities that others take for granted. CPTs offer safety, hygiene and comfort, as well as space and appropriate equipment, for example a height adjustable changing bench, peninsular toilet and a celling hoist.

MVDC successfully applied for funding from the UK Government to enable the installations to take place, in response to a nationwide Changing Places campaign for such facilities to be installed in public venues. Thanks go to AM Noon and SHW Crawley for their help in completing the installations.

The Leatherhead CPT, located on the ground floor of the Swan Centre next to the main entrance of Sainsbury’s, is open daily from 07:00-18:00 (a RADAR key can be obtained from the Swan Centre management team on 01372 376358). The Dorking CPT, located in the building on the upper level of St Martin’s Walk car park, is open daily from 08:30-17:00 – users will need their own RADAR key. Further details can be found on the Changing Places website.

Cllr Daly was joined at the opening ceremonies by Cllr Paul Kennedy, MVDC Member for Internal Services and Security (with responsibility for equalities), Cllr Elsie Rosam, MVDC Member Equalities Champion (Disabled People), as well as representatives from local charities The Grange Centre, the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People and ALDAG (Always Learning Developing And Growing).

Cllr Paul Kennedy, MVDC Cabinet Member for Internal Services and Security (with responsibility for equalities), said: “The new Changing Places Toilets will allow some of our most vulnerable and in-need residents to visit, shop and socialise in Dorking and Leatherhead, confident in the knowledge that they can use a toilet facility with dignity and comfort. This will allow families to plan days out without the worry of having to cut the trip short.

We are committed to supporting our residents and communities to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives and have over the past year supported the development of Access Able guides to Dorking and Leatherhead. When renovated and reopened in 2016, our Meadowbank Park playground was the first Plan Inclusive Play Area (PiPA) in Surrey, allowing children with a wide range of abilities to enjoy the playground.”

Karen Deacon, QEF’s Chief Executive, said: “QEF is a disability charity based just outside Leatherhead and we are committed to enabling disabled children and adults to achieve their potential, so each person can live as independently as possible. Accessible facilities and changing facilities in particular are an important part of maintaining a person’s dignity and enabling independence. It is great to see these facilities available to disabled people living and visiting Leatherhead.”

Alison Keeley, CEO of The Grange Centre, said: “I was delighted to be invited to the opening ceremony for the Changing Places Toilet in the Swan Centre in Leatherhead on September 3rd 2024. Changing Places Toilets mean that those whose mobility is limited are able to use a toilet when they are visiting somewhere outside their home. The Grange Centre is pleased that Leatherhead now has a Changing Places Toilet in the town centre.”

Hazel Gibson, Trustee for ALDAG, said: “The changing places toilet will be such an asset to Dorking. A new well equipped, spacious toilet for the less mobile disabled person.”