Disabled people call for better ‘incLOOsion’ in Morden Leisure Centre
Merton CIL are surprised and disappointed to discover that Merton Council have removed the planned ‘Changing Places’ accessible facility from the new-build Morden Leisure Centre.
Some Disabled people need extra equipment and space to allow them to use toilets safely and comfortably. Changing Places is a facility which is larger than a standard accessible toilet, and includes a hoist and a large changing table. People may have limited mobility, so need equipment to help them, or may need support from one or two carers, for example, to get on the toilet.
Without adequate toilet facilities, Disabled people report they are regularly dehydrating themselves, or just not going out. This is why, when the original Leisure Centre plans came out in 2016, we were really pleased because the original plans include a Changing Places facility, which our members had requested in consultation.
Sadly, earlier this month, Merton CIL found out that the Changing Places facility has been removed from the plans and is no longer being included at the new leisure centre, due to open in Autumn this year.
We have met with Merton Council officers to raise our concerns. We have also spoken with GLL who will be running the new leisure centre, and with Sport England.
We are calling on Merton Council to “put it back” and to give us “incLOOsion” in Merton by including a Changing Places facility in the new Morden Leisure Centre before it opens.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Lyla Adwan-Kamara
Email: lyla@mertoncil.org.uk
Telephone: 0744 936 2233
#MertonIncLOOsion
More about Merton CIL
We are a user-led Deaf and Disabled people’s organisation supporting local Deaf and Disabled people. We provide Advice and Advocacy services and we support our members to speak up on the issues which matter to them, like this one. You can find out more about us here: www.mertoncil.org.uk
More about Changing Places
Standard accessible toilets (or "disabled toilets") do not provide changing benches or hoists and most are too small to accommodate more than one person. Without Changing Places toilets, families can be forced to risk their own health and safety and that of their loved one by changing them on a toilet floor. Changing Places are also useful for a wide range of Disabled people, in addition to people needing the hoist or table. For example, having a toilet in the middle of the room instead of the corner means a wheelchair user can independently transfer from either side of the toilet. You can find out more about Changing Places here: http://www.changing-places.org/
You can download this press release as a PDF here -Disabled people call for better ‘incLOOsion’ in Morden Leisure Centre Press Release