Changing places at the Loo of the Year Awards

Mike Bone, managing director of Loo of the Year Awards, says: "As the 500th Changing Places toilet is passed, the Award scheme, promoted by the British Toilet Association, is recognising the success of the concept of these ‘bigger and better’ accessible toilets in public places with a dedicated category, sponsored by the UK’s leading supplier of disabled toilet solutions, Clos-o-Mat”.

Changing Places toilets offer more space than standard (Document M type) accessible toilets, and incorporate additional equipment, including an adult-sized changing bench, hoist and privacy screen. The concept was developed to resolve the problems faced by people who need the help of at least one carer to toilet: conventional accessible toilets do not always have the space or facilities to enable them to ‘spend a penny’ in an appropriate environment, meaning they either have to curtail a trip, be double-padded, or are unable to go out at all. Under BS8300:2009 and 2013 Building Regulations, it is now ‘advisable’ to include such a facility in venues to which the public have access.

There are 11million people registered disabled in the UK, a 10% increase in less than a decade, so there is a growing need to provide suitable toilets.

According to Robin Tuffley from Clos-o-Mat, the availability, cleanliness and maintenance of publicly accessible toilets, including Changing Places toilets is crucial in enhancing the attractiveness of public areas.

 

"Shopping centres to visitor attractions and every public environment in between are reporting seeing an increase in visitor numbers, and positive feedback, as a result of having installed a Changing Places toilet, especially when they have further included a Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ (automatic) toilet in place of a conventional WC,” he says.

 

"We are one of the key suppliers and installers of Changing Places toilets, and believe the good ones should be recognised, hence our sponsorship of the 2013 Loo of the Year Award’s Changing Places category.”

Meanwhile, the organisers report that entries are flooding in for the 2013 Loo of the Year Awards following last year's special 25th Anniversary year. 

 

Record numbers of cleaning and FM companies are realising the value of independent assessment of their service and management enhancing their offer to their existing and potential clients.

Mike Bone said: "The recent spotlight on Loo of the Year Awards in the BBC Alba TV programme Ladies & Gents and the ITV1 Dirty Britain documentaries highlighted the need for washroom cleaning standards to be at high levels and the important part played by the cleaning operatives. The Attendant of the Year Awards which include National and UK awards for individual cleaning teams, in-house and external contractors are an important part of the Awards”.

 

The closing date for entries has been extended to 31 August 2013. For more information visit the Loo of the Year Awards’ website  www.loo.co.uk