Council seek to 'copper-fasten' Changing Places toilet provision

A local council has unanimously supported a motion to ensure all its large-scale events include fully accessible 'Changing Places' toilets as standard.

The motion from Alliance councillor Chris McCaw, seconded by Alderman Yvonne Boyle, came before Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Leisure and Development Committee on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the year, issues were raised with a lack of 'Changing Places' facilities at the North West 200 and Stendhal Festival events.

“This is something that various councillors have been lobbied on,” said Cllr McCaw.

“It's a very specific thing that provides utilities for people who are very severely disabled, so it's something we need to be providing.

“It is something that the Council has already been looking at, so this proposal is that we copper-fasten the proposals in policy.

“That we make sure every large event provides these facilities and it is something that means it is accessible to everybody.

“We have a good history of making events accessible; this makes them accessible to those who need these facilities.”

The motion means all large-scale public events will have to provide the Changing Places facilities, with consideration also given to providing them at smaller-scale events. Council's own events will have the Changing Places facilities as standard.

Cllr Chris McCaw

A Council official said an assessment of need would take place for smaller-scale events and added they were looking to develop inclusivity and accessibility at its play parks.

“I can say with confidence that this council leads Northern Ireland local authorities in the provision of accessible play parks,” he said.

Alderman George Duddy queried whether the facilities would be supplied by the Council or if the organiser of a small festival would have to pay for the units themselves.

“My concern is the cost to that group who are trying to run a festival in small rural areas and the financial aspect of that,” he said.

An official said minor events would not be required to provide the facilities, and that for major events the onus would be on the event funder.

However, he said the funding for that provision would come from within the budget for the event.

Cllr Ashleen Schenning asked if Council could apply for funding to provide mobile facilities.

“If there is funding available from DfC, would there be an opportunity to apply for funding to have one of these units ourselves as a Council?” she said.

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Reference to the show resulted in a minor spat at Tuesday's meeting.

“Even to hire them, it must be another added cost to the festival that wouldn't be necessary if we as a Council were able to provide them.”

Council officials confirmed they would be seeking funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) for both permanent and mobile Changing Places facilities.

The motion was unanimously approved and goes to next month's full council meeting for ratification.