Great Yarmouth Borough Council opens Changing Places toilet as part of revamp of most popular public conveniences

Changing Places toilets are for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as people with physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, who often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.

The unisex facility, which includes a hoist and adult changing area, was installed at the Pier Head toilets at the request of the Environment Committee, as part of refurbishments to the toilet blocks at Pier Head and The Conge.

It will be opened today, in time for the Easter bank holiday, and is already promoted on the Changing Places website, along with the other Changing Places toilets in the borough, at the Marina Centre and The Troll Cart pub.

This is the second phase of upgrades to the council's most popular, year-round toilets. Last year, the Jetty toilets, in Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, and the Feathers Plain toilets, in Gorleston High Street, were revamped. And an additional £160,000 has recently been agreed by full council to further improve public conveniences. 

Jane Beck, head of property and asset management, said: "Great Yarmouth is an inclusive borough and we've been upgrading our most well-used, year-round toilets to enhance the visiting experience for all. Both Pier Head and The Conge have been fully refurbished and redecorated, including new floors, wall panels, cubicles and sanitaryware.

"As part of this modernisation programme, the Environment Committee felt it was important to install a Changing Places toilet at Gorleston to ensure that our two biggest resorts both offer this higher level of accessibility and convenience for our most severely disabled visitors and residents. Many other places across the UK still do not have any Changing Places toilets, so to have three in the borough is something to be really proud of."