Scunthorpe ‘Changing Places’ loo to change places as original green-lit site ‘wouldn’t work’

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Plans for a disability-friendly loo in Scunthorpe have hit a blockage forcing the council to apply for the toilet to be put in a different location.

In October 2022, North Lincolnshire Council applied for a ‘Changing Places’ toilet just outside HSBC bank, in Wells Street, and planning permission was granted in December.

However, 11 months on, there is no toilet because discussions with utility companies found the site would not work, a council spokesperson has said.

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As such, the Changing Place facility needs to change places and a fresh planning application was made at the end of October for it to be located between Scunthorpe Central Library and Carlton Street.

Changing Places facilities are designed to be accessible for disabled people. They include specialist equipment such as an overhead hoist, a height-adjustable changing bench, and a rise and fall sink. The previous plans in Wells Street involved a suggested quote of £63,000 for the facility.

“Efforts have been made by liaising with relevant stake-holders e.g. the Anchor Project, so to keep the designed to be visually accepting within the town centre setting and in-line with the redevelopment of the area,” the latest application’s design statement details.

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A North Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: “After discussions with the utility companies, it was found that the original site for the Changing Places toilet wouldn’t work. Therefore, a new location had to be found, which is in between Scunthorpe Central and what was Oldrid’s department store.

“The new planning application was submitted in October 2023 and a decision is expected to be made soon. If approved, work is expected to start in the new year.”

It is understood the expectation is it will be up and running in spring 2024. Standard toilets existed in the town centre before a multi-storey car park was demolished in 2011, and the old market went in 2019. The application itself says “there has been no suitable WC facilities to serve the care community in the vicinity of the vibrant high street” since.

An artist's impression of the public loo facility that was planned to be situated by HSBC in Scunthorpe town centre. — An artist’s impression of the public loo facility that was planned to be situated by HSBC in Scunthorpe town centre.
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)

Speaking to Scunthorpe Live, Town ward Cllr Mashook Ali brought up the lack of public toilets while discussing the £15.9m Levelling Up Fund announcement for Scunthorpe. “The toilets have been taken away when they closed the old market,” he said, and expressed frustration that promises on public loos had not been so far fulfilled, adding: “The people of North Lincolnshire expect better from their council or councillors to look after them.”

Fellow Town ward Cllr Lorraine Yeadon emphasised the importance of public toilets for elderly people, saying: “They plan their whole going out journey based on where the toilets are.”

You can find your nearest Changing Places loo here.

Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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Scunthorpe ‘Changing Places’ loo to change places as original green-lit site ‘wouldn’t work’

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Labour to take brakes off Britain with first Kings Speech

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