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Local Government and Communities Committee 31 October 2018

31 Oct 2018 · S5 · Local Government and Communities Committee

Item of business

Planning (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Fee, Mary Lab West Scotland Watch on SPTV

I will speak to amendment 323A, which is my amendment, and in support of amendment 323, which is in the name of Jeremy Balfour. Amendments 323 and 323A serve to strengthen the bill by including a statutory provision for inclusion of changing places toilet facilities in certain large new developments. Such toilets are essential for people who live with profound and multiple learning difficulties, or with disabilities that severely limit mobility, and for people who are unable to use standard accessible toilets—that is, disabled toilets. In February 2009, the British Standards Institution’s BS 8300 “Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people—Code of practice” was published. The code provides guidance on the design of buildings to ensure that they met the needs of disabled people, and outlined the specifications for changing places toilets. Amendment 323 attempts to enshrine in legislation the recommended BS dimension for such toilets. As the amendment outlines, those toilets should be a minimum of “12 square metres, to allow up to two carers to assist an adult to use the toilet”. My amendment 323A would supplement and strengthen amendment 323. BS 8300 recommends nine categories of larger buildings and complexes that should provide a changing places toilet, and amendment 323 covers four of those categories. Amendment 323A adheres to the BSI recommendation to standardise provision of changing places toilets by making them a legal requirement in “Major transport termini and interchanges ... Cultural centres, such as museums, concert halls and art galleries ... Stadia and large auditoria” and motorway service facilities. At present, the provision of changing places toilets is sporadic and inadequate because there is no legal requirement for large buildings and complexes to provide facilities that comply with BS 8300. To give one small example, I note that there are only two changing places toilets on Scotland’s road networks. Both are located on the M74: one is at the Cairn Lodge services near Lesmahagow and the other is at Annandale Water services near Lockerbie. There is growing awareness about the necessity for changing places toilets. It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million people across the UK need changing places toilets to enable them to get out of the house and go about their day-to-day activities. I believe that the Scottish Parliament should lead the rest of the UK on the issue. From an equalities and human rights perspective, agreement to amendments 323 and 323A would ensure that our public buildings, shared spaces and the wider built environment are more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the basic needs of all members of our society. Changing places toilets are vital and potentially life-changing facilities. Their introduction in new developments would ensure greater accessibility and inclusivity for carers and individuals who require those facilities. The reality is that without access to a suitable changing bench and hoist, many people with complex disabilities are forced to choose between lying on an unhygienic toilet floor or becoming trapped in their own home. I urge the committee to support amendments 323 and amendment 323A.

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Local Government and Communities Committee 31 October 2018

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