New fully accessible toilet facilities are being installed at four locations across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.
Stradbroke Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, the Food Museum in Stowmarket, a new café in Belle Vue Park in Sudbury, and Flatford Mill will benefit from new toilets and/or changing places.
Councillor Tim Weller, cabinet member for environment, culture, and wellbeing at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: “I am really pleased to see the works to create these vital facilities is now underway. We have worked closely with key partners to identify areas in the district that could benefit from these facilities and they go a long way to ensure that our district is as accessible and inclusive as possible.”
Councillor Derek Davis, cabinet member for economic development at Babergh District Council, said: “These facilities are much needed. We want to ensure that areas such as this are accessible for all members of our community to visit and enjoy. I hope that they make a real difference.”
The Stradbroke leisure centre, located near Eye and operated by Everyone Active, will get larger accessible toilets featuring equipment like hoists, privacy screens, and adult-sized changing benches.
Anselm Gurney, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are proud to cater for everyone here and the larger accessible facilities will allow us to improve our provision. There is something for people across the community at Stradbroke, no matter what your age, interests or ability.”
The Stradbroke Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre project, costing £62,000 and funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Mid Suffolk District Council, and Everyone Active, is set to be completed by March 31.
Full accessible facilities at Flatford Mill, run by the National Trust, were opened today.
Simon Peachy, Flatford Mill site manager for the National Trust, said: “We were really pleased to be able to partner with Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council to develop a Changing Places facility at Flatford.
“As an organisation, the National Trust’s aim is to ensure every visitor feels welcome, so this facility will hopefully improve the experience of some of our visitors and perhaps encourage others to visit for the first time.”
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