A North Tyneside Customer First Centre has launched a new Changing Places facility.
From Tuesday 7 March, the new facility will be available in Wallsend Customer First Centre.
Installed by council partner Kier North Tyneside, the development comes after Anne Curry, of Wallsend, wrote to the Elected Mayor asking for an improvement to the current facilities in Wallsend for her daughter, Paula as well as other residents.
Changing Places facilities are different to regular accessible toilets and changing areas as they have extra features and more space to meet the needs of people who use them.
The work involved extending the current accessible toilet into the children’s area and reconfiguring the interior to house a hoist and shower facilities.
The new facility will comfortably provide space for one person and up to two carers, as well as a safe and clean environment with a non-slip floor.
Delighted with the work, North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “I’m pleased that we have been able to open this new facility for the public.
“The work that the Changing Places scheme does is fantastic and it’s great to see it becoming more prominent in North Tyneside.
“Anne and her daughter have been incredibly proactive in their support of this new facility, so I’d like to say a big thank you to them as well.”
Kier regional director, Mike Furze, said: “We are proud to have delivered this project, which will be of significant benefit to service users, and to support the great work Changing Places does.
“By working in partnership with our colleagues at North Tyneside Council we are making a real difference to improving the quality of specialist community facilities for residents across the borough.”
Anne, who attended the opening with Paula, said: “I'm very happy with new changing places facility and its going to be great for residents and visitors.
“Now nobody will have to cut their day short and miss out on the great days which North Tyneside has to offer because of this facility.”
For more information on the new facility, contact the centre on (0191) 643 2075.
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