New Changing Places at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station has enhanced accessibility for visitors with the installation of a brand new Changing Places toilet.

Supported by Changing Places supplier, Innova Care Concepts, the facility has been installed in a converted building on Platform One, helping to provide accessible changing facilities for families with complex care needs.

The fully accessible changing room and toilet facilities have been match-funded by the Government’s ‘Changing Places’ fund via Cumberland Council, giving the correct facilities for disabled people to wash, change and use the toilet safely and easily.

Group photo at the launch of the new Changing Places at Ravenglass, left to right: Gillian Scotford, Director of Accessible UK, Daniel Morley, Head of Retail and Attractions, Lake District Estates, Katie Read, Tourism and Cultural Development Officer, Cumberland Council, Georgina Townsend, Director of Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and Lake District Estates, Gill Haigh, Managing Director, Cumbria Tourism, Stuart Hunter, Head of Projects, Lake District Estates

New Changing Places installed at Ravenglass

The new Changing Places facilities at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway include an overhead hoist system, a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench and space for carers.  It will also supplement existing disabled parking spaces and level access to the platform.

To ensure the new facility benefits the whole community, the new Changing Places toilets can be used by anyone, not just visitors to the railway, the Turntable Café and Ravenglass Railway Museum. Out-of-hours they will remain accessible by RADAR key.

This latest installation is another step in the right direction for accessibility in the UK. According to a survey commissioned by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers, 81% said that by having access to a Changing Places toilet facility at a transport network, it allowed them to have a day out.

It also showed that 50% of survey participants found it difficult to find out where CPT’s are located when planning a trip, which highlights the importance of accessibility and increasing general awareness.

Inside the new Changing Places toilet

Comments

“Promoting access to all is really important to us and we are thrilled to receive Changing Places funding through Cumberland Council to help bolster our own investment in enhancing accessible facilities.

“Also, my late mother had many years with motor neurone disease, was in a wheelchair, and personally had many challenges in her latter years trying to find suitable facilities on her days out and about. So this is a really worthwhile legacy and I am very proud and grateful to be able to officially open a Changing Places facility here in this special location on the west coast of Cumbria.”

Georgina Townsend, Director at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

“We want to ensure visitor destinations in our area are inclusive and can be enjoyed by all. We were pleased to provide support for the funding application and are delighted that this has resulted in a successful conclusion – that will benefit the venue and wider area.

“A changing place offers freedom to explore new destinations. Resulting in new experiences, and having a great day out discovering our coast, city, towns and countryside.”

Cllr Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places

“Our primary mission is to utilise the technology we have in order to make the UK a more equitable society with access for everyone. We were delighted to install these new facilities at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to make accessibility easier for all their visitors and the general public.”

Tom Hulbert, Managing Director at Innova Care Concepts

Innova’s Changing Places Manager, Derek Oliver, speaking at the launch of the new facility at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway