A new Changing Places toilet facility is now available at the Fountain Lane car park in Soham.

The toilets contain a hoist and a changing bench enabling people who need personal assistance to use the toilets or get changed without having to lay on the floor of a public toilet.

East Cambridgeshire District Council successfully applied to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for a grant to install the toilet.

People who require a Changing Places toilet include those with profound and multiple disabilities such as muscle-wasting conditions and cerebral palsy, as well as those who have suffered major physical trauma or a stroke.

The new facility will help open up East Cambridgeshire to disabled people and their carers enabling them to spend more time in local communities.

It is estimated over 17% of people living in these areas have serious physical disabilities and 16% have moderate physical disabilities.

Two disabled parking spaces have been positioned in front of the toilet. There are existing Changing Places toilets located at The Hive Leisure Centre, at Ely Leisure Village and at Ely Railway Station.

Cllr Bill Hunt, assets champion for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We want to welcome everyone to East Cambs.

This really is a fantastic facility, which, along with free parking, helps ensure the district is more welcoming and accessible to as many people as possible.”

In February, a Changing Places toilet opened at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. 

It was inspired to set up the specialist toilet space following a visit from the charity Little Miracles, which supports families whose children have additional needs and life-limiting health conditions.

This is only the third Changing Places toilet in South Cambridgeshire, and has features including an adult-sized changing bed and a hoist for safe lifting.

For more information about public toilets and Changing Places toilets in the district visit East Cambridgeshire District Council’s website.