Revealed: Where new disabled toilets in Hereford will go

The locations of three new public toilets for severely disabled people in Hereford have been announced.

They are part-funded by a £300,000 grant from the Government, which says its Changing Places scheme is for “larger accessible toilets for severely disabled people, with equipment such as hoists, privacy screens, adult-sized changing benches, peninsula toilets and space for carers”.
Herefordshire Council added that the toilets “open up public places such as cafes and theatres to this group and their families, enabling them to enjoy the same experiences as everyone else”.

Herefordshire is one of 64 English local authorities benefiting from the funding this year, which was for a maximum of three toilets per authority.

Those in Hereford will be on the ground floor of the council-owned Maylord Orchards shopping centre; at the Courtyard Theatre in Edgar Street; and at the Aspire Community Hub in Canal Road, a centre for adults with learning disabilities.

The Courtyard and Aspire Hub are also contributing their own funding, and will be responsible for managing their toilets.

The three locations “were agreed by prioritising sites based on eligibility, deliverability, rationale, including evidence from research and consultation with stakeholders; and value for money, including confirmation of co-funding”, the council explained.

The spending has yet to be signed off by the council’s chief finance officer.

There is already a Changing Places toilet at the city’s Old Market.