Toilet shortage is a problem

Jan 9 2009

I HAVE recently come back to Ayr from London to stay after over 25 years away.

I suffer from Crohn’s Disease which is an inflammatory bowel disease. I moved back in the belief that my quality of life would be so much better living in my home town than living in a big city with my particular illness.

For those not familiar with the condition, one of the many symptoms is that you sometimes have to go to the toilet suddenly and urgently.

Since moving back I find myself almost housebound at times because of the lack of public conveniences.

I am only in my early 50s. I used to exercise regularly and foolishly bought a bike when I returned to cycle along the beach every morning as keeping fit certainly helps with some of the other symptoms of the disease. I have had to give this up as there are no public toilets in the vicinity of the beach or indeed the town centre.

I have a key for public toilets provided by RADAR and so far the only one I can find is on the shop floor of Tesco.

I have to plan my day out with military precision, and so far my life revolved round Tesco (who have excellent facilities) and Marks & Spencer if I can make it up the stairs in time to prevent an accident.

People like me with other bowel diseases need access to public toilets without having to go into bars, restaurants, and shops and asking to use the toilets even with a help card as by the time I am told either “I will ask the supervisor” or “these are for customers only” I have humiliated myself and have to go home to change, feeling that I can never go back there in case someone remembers me.

In London there were many more facilities protected from the pitfalls of public toilets (i.e. paid attendants and cleaners or RADAR key operated self cleaning toilets).

Either South Ayrshire Council have to provide these facilities or have proper training for all staff in retail outlets to allow people with a NACC or other recognised Help Card to use the toilets in their premises speedily and discreetly.

This is supposed to be a holiday town. However, people with disabilities which cannot be seen to the naked eye are being discriminated against by SAC.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tesco for their foresight and understanding of hidden disability.

Margaret Corrigan

Ayr.