The new Range, Great Western Road

 As a campaigner for disabled accessibility, I always get excited to see places especially if it is new built. So, when I heard that they were building a Range near me on the Great Western Road, I was quite excited to see what it will be like in terms of access. Would there be a Changing Places toilet in the new store?

Standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. Over ¼ million people in the UK with a disability need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. These have all the right equipment in it such as a hoist, a changing bed and it is very big to move around for a wheelchair user and 2 carers.

 

Last year when I notice they started to build the new store I tried to contact the Range to see if they were installing a changing places toilet. Sadly, no reply email or on social media. So, I thought, OK I shall wait to see for myself when it is opened.

 

I heard that other Range stores had installed Changing Places toilets, so I was hopeful that they done the same in the store in Glasgow. But no, that is in the case sadly.

 

The store opened last Friday so today I went to have a look around.  The store itself is big and wide enough to get a wheelchair around.

 

As I was going around the store, I spotted a door which says customer toilets. I thought that will answer my question, Mum jumped in to have a look, but no Changing Places toilet just the bog-standard toilet! This is terrible for a new built!

So, they have customer toilets but what about the disabled customers who requires to use a hoist or changing bed?

If anybody is building a new shop or restaurant or anything else, they should think of everyone’s needs and include that in.

 

For 2022 it makes me so angry and upset that a new built doesn’t meets everyone’s needs!

Written by Jill