COM-PREHENSIVE APPROACH HELPS DELIVER ‘BEST PRACTICE’ IN ACCESSIBILITY

The best leisure centre in the country is building on its reputation for excellence by investing in state-of-art facilities for disabled people.

Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, operated by Everyone Active on behalf of Mid Suffolk District Council, has added improved toilet and changing facilities to enable even more people to participate in the raft of sport and leisure activities, and simultaneously deliver ‘best practice’ at the flagship Centre.

Project manager NPS turned to leading disabled toileting solutions provider Clos-o-Mat to achieve an efficient solution: from one source, obtaining all the equipment for a new swimming pool disabled changing room, pool disabled and baby changing room, conventional disabled toilet, and ‘bigger and better’ Changing Places accessible toilet.

Explained NPS team leader Mark Smith, “Mid Suffollk Leisure Centre is a flagship, and has a very good reputation for its approach to inclusivity. The Council recognises the importance of decent toilet and changing facilities to encourage people of any ability to participate in sporting activities.

The new disabled toilet facilities show it is possible to achieve best practice, cost-effectively.”

Added Robin Tuffley, Clos-o-Mat marketing manager, “Research shows people make a conscious decision NOT to visit somewhere if they believe there aren’t appropriate toilet resources for them. Sport England now recommends that sport & leisure venues should have not just the accessible toilets that are legal requirements, but also a Changing Places facility.

Now, anyone, regardless of ability, can visit the Centre knowing it ticks all the boxes in terms of changing and toilet facilities.”

Under the project, Clos-o-Mat has equipped a new standard accessible toilet in Reception, plus a Changing Places toilet. With more space than a traditional accessible toilet, the Changing Places toilet also incudes a height adjustable washbasin, height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, ceiling track hoist, and- instead of a conventional WC- a Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita ‘wash and dry’ (automatic) toilet.

The Palma Vita can be used as a conventional toilet, but also can wash and dry the user after toileting, without the need for the user, or their carer, to wipe clean with toilet tissue, thus improving hygiene, independence and dignity, and further extending relevance and potential use of the room.

In addition, Clos-o-Mat has equipped a disabled changing room and separate disabled and baby changing room poolside.

Clos-o-Mat has a 50+ years-long proven track record on the supply and installation of fully accessible toilets, and hygiene rooms, including a substantial number of Changing Places facilities. Its ability to deliver design advice, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance across the ambit of accessible toileting equipment, including the Clos-o-Mat wash and dry (automatic) toilet, means it is uniquely positioned to simplify the whole process for forward-thinking environments to which the public have access.