New accessible Changing Places toilet facilities now open at Black Park

People with complex accessibility needs can now visit Black Park Country Park safe in knowledge that they have ready access to toilet facilities that fully meet their needs, following the completion of works to install a new Changing Places Toilet (CPT), the first of its kind in a Buckinghamshire country park.

According to national figures, in 2021, over 250,000 severely disabled people did not have access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs. There were only 1,300 registered CPTs in England but demand outstripped supply and the number of CPTs needed to increase to improve access for severely disabled people and their carers. In response to this, Buckinghamshire Council made the decision to apply for government funding to install a Changing Places facility in one of the county’s country parks.

The new facility, which is located next to the Lakeside Café and existing toilets, will allow a range of people who may previously not have been able to visit the area, the option to enjoy the country park. It was installed with assistance from Changing Places, a national organisation that supports the rights of people with disabilities and campaigns for accessible toilets to be installed in public spaces so that people with limited mobility can enjoy their local community.

The new facility includes a peninsular toilet, grab rails, a ceiling hoist, an adjustable changing bench and a wide berth for wheelchair users. It has been funded by a £40k grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and match funding from Buckinghamshire Council. Since this fund was launched, there are now more than 2,200 registered changing places in England, an increase in 70% in just three years, which will help to make a real difference to so many people. The Black Park unit is the 2,257th registered with Muscular Dystrophy UK.

A spokesperson for Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “We are delighted to have registered the Black Park Country Park Changing Places for Buckinghamshire Council and we are pleased for the local people and visitors who need a Changing Places Toilet to have such a wonderful facility to enable them to visit the country park.”

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “I am delighted to open these new facilities in Black Park. We welcome more than 750,000 visitors to Black Park every year. We can now give people who may have previously not been able to visit, due to worries about the lack of accessible facilities, the opportunity to come and enjoy the acres of open space, paths, trails and beautiful countryside which is fantastic news for everyone.”

Like other similar facilities, the new toilet will be accessible with a radar key. It is on the national register compiled by Muscular Dystrophy UK. For more information visit Changing Places.