Bolton: Fewer than a dozen accessible toilets in the borough

A map of publicly available accessible toilets shows there are fewer than a dozen in Bolton, as campaigners call for better facilities for those living with disabilities.

The Great British Public Toilet Map tracks publicly available toilets using crowd-sourced information from users and data from councils and other organisations.

It only logs free-to-use toilets which the public can use without having to ask – so "customers only" toilets are excluded.

Analysis of the figures by QS Supplies, a bathroom supplier, shows there are 18 publicly available toilets in Bolton – six of which are accessible to those with disabilities.

Across the North West, 296 of 1,074 (27.6 per cent) public toilets are accessible.

And across England, the South East has the highest proportion of accessible toilets, with 45.6 per cent, while the West Midlands has the lowest, with just 22.9 per cent.

Bolton gets slice of £7m 'Changing Places' fund to improve lives of disabled people (Image: Newsquest)

• Also read: Bolton gets slice of £7m 'Changing Places' fund to improve lives of disabled people

As these figures are largely based on submissions from the public, they may not reflect the full range of facilities available in the area.

Age UK Bolton chief executive, Suzanne Hilton, said: “A lack of accessible toilets in Bolton, specifically within the town centre, is a complaint we hear from a significant amount of local older people.

“The lack of accessible facilities leads many older people to decide not to come into the town centre at all.

“This impacts those individuals as they are unable to do the things they need to do in town and are missing out on opportunities to be active and socialise, but this also adversely impacts the economy of the town itself.”

Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Crohn's and Colitis UK, said: "We know that nine in 10 people with the conditions plan their journeys based on access to toilets."

"This is increasingly challenging and isolating as the number of public toilets declines.

“The fear of being caught short and unable to access a public toilet when required means many people are confined to their homes.”

More than 500,000 across the UK suffer from these conditions.

"More awareness and understanding will improve the lives of people living with Crohn’s and Colitis to make sure they aren’t hidden at home – they’re out and about, living life to the fullest,” she added.

• Also read: Bolton: Disabled parking bays scheme reaches next stage

Improved facilities will also be created at Middlebrook retail park (Image: Newsquest)

In February, the government announced funding for more than 100 new "Changing Places" toilets – which are designed to be used by people with a range of disabilities – to be built across England.

Bolton was given a slice of £7m worth of funding to help make facilities more accessible for severely disabled people.

The aim is to build the most up to date disabled toilet facilities which will be built in public places like parks, shopping centres and train stations, with Bolton’s to be created at the central library, at the Market Place and at Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park.

Responding to the news, Shelley Symonds, a campaigner for the Changing Places charity: “The freedom of being able to visit different places and have days out that we can thoroughly enjoy, without the worry of toilet uncertainty or having to cut our trips shorts, is a wonderful feeling.

“Not being able to access a suitable toilet dictates our everyday life and prevents us from even accessing our most local community,” she added.

In 2019, research by the Royal Society for Public Health found that one in five of us do not go out as much as we would like due to a lack of available toilets.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno