Carers urge council to reopen specialist toilet

A woman whose granddaughter has cerebral palsy says it is "outrageous" that a specialist changing toilet has been closed for months since being vandalised.

Patricia Risbridger, who cares for eight-year-old Esmai, said whenever she has visited Bournemouth's Lower Gardens in the last two years, the Changing Places facility has been closed.

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said it closed the toilet in August 2025 and was planning to reopen it soon.

It apologised for the delay and said it was testing a new video intercom entry system to improve security.

Changing Places are specialist toilets with a changing bed and hoist, allowing carers to lift older children or adults who have severe disabilities.

Risbridger, from Poole, said: "There's one in Bournemouth in Lower Gardens and another one in the Dolphin [shopping] centre in Poole and they're both shut.

"We are lucky, we can still lift [Esmai], just about, but there are many people who don't have that option so they either have to not go out or cut their visit short which, in 2026, is just outrageous.

"People aren't going to visit if they've got anybody with a disability because the facilities just aren't there any more."

Jenny Miller of the Changing Places campaign consortium said: "Without a Changing Places toilet you are either restricted to not going anywhere or you are forced to change your relative on a dirty toilet floor or in the back of a car.

"It's pretty awful when you plan a day out and the toilet is either closed or sometimes the hoist isn't charged because it hasn't been returned to the charging point."

The Dolphin shopping centre manager John Grinnell said: "We were forced to close the Changing Places toilet on the 16 July, after we discovered damage had been made to the toilet's bed equipment.

"We have ordered a new bed, but it takes six weeks to manufacture."

BCP environment councillor Andy Hadley said the Lower Gardens facility would reopen "early August", adding: "We are sorry for the length of time it has been closed and the impact this has had."

He said vandals had caused "thousands of pounds worth of damage" and the toilet remained closed while "more secure access arrangements" were installed.

"We need to thoroughly test the new system. Our tests are due to be carried out this week," he said.