The Easter holidays are a great opportunity to take a road trip – whether that’s to visit friends or family or for a welcome Springtime break.
But I’m well aware that for many people with conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, these journeys can quickly switch from a joy to an ordeal due to a lack of fully accessible toilets at motorway service stations.
At present, just one in six service stations across England have a Changing Places toilet. These are facilities with extra space and specialised equipment such as hoists, adult-sized changing benches and dignity saving curtains – so they can be used safely and comfortably by disabled people.
As bloggers on the Muscular Dystrophy UK website have repeatedly highlighted, the lack of fully accessible toilets on our motorways can have a huge impact on disabled people’s ability to travel.
Some have described suffering long journeys in discomfort.
Others have talked about enduring the indignity of being changed on dirty floors.
And some travellers are forced to deliberately go thirsty or don’t eat so they won’t have to use the toilet at all – a hugely distressing situation not only for the person involved but their family too.
This unacceptable state of affairs means that quite understandably many of the 250,000 people who require Changing Places toilets opt to stay at home.
Of course some roadside service stations have done a great job in providing the right facilities. But there is still much more to do.
I am determined that everyone should be able to travel on our roads without worrying about such basic needs.
Today marks major progress towards that goal with the launch of a process to enable motorway service stations to apply for a share of £2 million to fund new Changing Places toilets.
It’s money that will help remove one of the main barriers to disabled people being able to travel on our roads easily. And it should mean that over the coming years thousands more families will be able to enjoy the same holiday activities that others today freely enjoy.
The funding will be allocated by MDUK on behalf of the Government, through a partnership originally announced in November last year.
Together, we will examine detailed proposals submitted by motorway service stations that apply for a share of the £2 million to ensure the funding is used to its full potential – with the toilets expected to be rolled out within the next few years.
The funding of these new facilities is just one of a number of commitments in our Inclusive Transport Strategy – which details the Government’s plans to build a transport system that enables disabled people to travel easily, confidently and without extra cost.
As well as the £2 million towards disabled toilets at motorway service stations, the strategy also includes pledges to support a range of other projects.
Just last week, we announced the 73 stations across the country that will get a share of £300 million to fund facilities such as lifts and wheelchair ramps, to make the rail network more accessible. We have also provided £2 million for audio and visual equipment on buses, and have launched a campaign to improve awareness of the needs and rights of disabled people across the transport network, and to prevent hate crime.
But while these schemes will make a real difference to disabled people’s lives, they are only part of delivering the real change that is required to provide equal travel opportunities for everyone.
To achieve that goal we need to continue to listen to disabled people so their needs are fully reflected in future transport policies and schemes. And we also need to engage with industry - recognising good practice and holding firms to account when they fall short.
I’m quite sure that by continuing to work in partnership we will achieve even more progress in this hugely important area.
It’s my hope that through our combined efforts, the joys of a carefree Springtime outing will be easily accessed by all.