Imagine planning a family day out only to discover that a basic necessity isn’t available. For many families caring for someone with severe disabilities, that’s exactly what happens when specialist Changing Places toilets are closed.

A recent situation in Bournemouth has highlighted how something as simple as a locked toilet can have a major impact on inclusion, independence, and quality of life.

Why Changing Places Toilets Matter

Unlike standard accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities are designed for people with profound physical disabilities. They typically include:

• A height-adjustable changing bench
• A ceiling or mobile hoist
• Extra space for wheelchairs and carers
• Appropriate support equipment for safe personal care

Without these facilities, many disabled people cannot comfortably or safely spend extended periods away from home.

A Family’s Frustration

Patricia Risbridger, who cares for her eight-year-old granddaughter Esmai, who has cerebral palsy, says the closure of Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens Changing Places toilet has made outings far more difficult.

According to Patricia, the facility has remained unavailable during multiple visits over the past two years. While her family can still lift Esmai for now, she points out that many carers cannot safely do so. As a result, families may have no choice but to shorten trips or avoid visiting altogether.

Her experience reflects a wider issue affecting disabled people across the UK whenever essential accessible facilities are unavailable.

The Impact Goes Beyond Convenience

For most people, finding a public toilet is a minor concern. For someone who depends on a Changing Places facility, it can determine whether they can leave home at all.

Campaigners say that without these specialist toilets, families can face impossible choices, including:

• Cancelling planned outings.
• Returning home early.
• Resorting to unsafe or undignified alternatives, such as changing someone on a toilet floor or in a vehicle.

Accessibility is not simply about providing ramps or disabled parking spaces. It also means ensuring essential facilities remain available, functional, and properly maintained.

Why Was the Toilet Closed?

The Bournemouth facility was closed following repeated vandalism that caused extensive damage.

The local council has explained that repairs have taken longer than expected because it is introducing a more secure entry system designed to reduce future vandalism. Officials have apologised for the delay and say the facility is expected to reopen once testing of the new security measures is complete.

Meanwhile, another Changing Places toilet in Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre has also been temporarily closed after damage to its specialist changing bed, with replacement equipment requiring several weeks to manufacture.

Protecting Accessible Facilities

Unfortunately, vandalism doesn’t only result in repair bills. It can remove vital services from the people who rely on them most.

When specialist equipment is damaged, repairs are often costly, replacement parts can take weeks to arrive, and entire communities are left without appropriate facilities.

This highlights the need for better protection of public accessibility infrastructure through improved security, faster maintenance, and greater public awareness of the importance of these spaces.

Accessibility Shouldn’t Be Optional

Creating inclusive communities involves more than installing accessible facilities—it requires keeping them available when people need them.

For families like Esmai’s, a functioning Changing Places toilet isn’t a luxury or an extra convenience. It’s the difference between participating in everyday life and staying at home.

As towns and cities continue to invest in accessibility, maintaining these essential facilities should be treated as an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time achievement. After all, true accessibility exists only when everyone can use public spaces with dignity and confidence.