Community Toilet Scheme
As the first borough to introduce this initiative, Richmond Council's scheme has received significant interest from Local Authorities wishing to emulate this style of toilet provision. Last year several reports were published through central government about toilet provision with recommendations for Council's to consider this ground breaking initiative as part of their toilet strategy.
How does the scheme work?
The Community Toilet Scheme enables local businesses like pubs, restaurants and shops, to work together with the Council to make more clean, safe and accessible toilets available to the public. The Council has recently extended membership of the Community Toilet Scheme with more business members and Council owned sites providing access to the public during opening hours.There are now nearly 100 premises taking part in the scheme.
Handy interactive area maps show who takes part in the scheme, what facilities they have and where they are in the Borough.
Participating premises display one of these stickers in their window:
Window stickers showing male, female and wheelchair accessible Community Toilet Scheme Members.
Street signage indicates the name and direction of the participating businesses.
Members of the public can use toilet facilities during the premises opening hours and without the need to make a purchase.Businesses have the right to refuse entry in exceptional circumstances.
What about wheelchair access and baby changing facilities?
Currently approximately one third of our scheme members offer wheelchair accessible facilities and approximately one quarter provide baby changing facilities. Stickers and street signage indicate which facilities are available at particular businesses.
DisabledGo provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK.
You can also find out more about Richmond AID. This is a local charity providing advice and information for people with disabilities.
Sit Stop enables people to sit for free at participating businesses displaying a window sticker.
Find out more about the Community Toilet Scheme
A new pocket sized leaflet has been launched this month, the handy 'What is the Community Toilet Scheme?' leaflet can be picked up from:
- Council offices
- Libraries
- Tourist information centres
- Hospitals
- Doctors surgeries
The leaflet contains maps showing where the scheme operates and a list of premises that participate in the scheme.
Please note the leaflet is correct at the time of going to print in June 2009 but information contained within it is subject to change as membership of the scheme may change. For an up-to-date list of members of the scheme you should refer to our interactive area maps.
To order your copy of the leaflet, find out more about the Community Toilet Scheme, or comment about any of the toilets provided through the scheme.
Telephone: 08456 122 660
Email communitytoilets@richmond.gov.uk.
Information is displayed on the Council's community noticeboards in the areas where the scheme operates.
How to join the scheme
To find out how your business can join the scheme email communitytoilets@richmond.gov.uk. Membership is subject to area need, types of facilities and other factors and is not automatic.