Yachtsman Geoff Holt, who uses a wheelchair, has carried out the official opening of a Changing Places accessible toilet at Wightlink’s car ferry terminal in Portsmouth.
With support from the Department for Transport Maritime Accessibility Fund, the ferry company has installed the facility at its port on Gunwharf Road. The Changing Places toilet gives disabled children and adults the confidence to embark on ferry travel to the Isle of Wight, knowing their needs can be met before the sailing. A hoist and shower are included in the well-equipped room, which is open 24 hours a day. Another Changing Places toilet is being built on Ryde Pier, home of Wightlink’s FastCat foot passenger service from Portsmouth.
Geoff knows Portsmouth Harbour well and is the founder of WetWheels Solent at Gunwharf Quays, close to Wightlink’s terminal.
It supports disabled and disadvantaged people of all ages to enjoy boating. This opportunity to get on the water broadens aspirations, increases confidence and directly impacts on health and wellbeing.
Geoff Holt MBE, has said:
“I welcome the installation of Wightlink’s impressive accessible toilet as I know more disabled people and their families will want to travel when you remove barriers, should be proud that several Changing Places toilets are now being installed in the city. It’s setting an example for other places to follow.”
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says:
“We were delighted to welcome Geoff Holt to our terminal to perform the opening ceremony. He is a powerful advocate for more opportunities for disabled people and his charity has already supported thousands of people to enjoy the excitement of powerboating.
Article continues below this advertisement “Wightlink is grateful to the Department for Transport for helping to finance these Changing Places toilets. This is part of Wightlink’s wider programme to improve how we support our disabled customers. Accessible ticket machines are on order, we are making car parking easier and audits are being carried out on all the company’s systems and facilities.”
Wightlink commissioned specialist company Astor Bannerman to install the Changing Places toilet at its Portsmouth port. It has already installed hundreds of the facilities around the country and is now at work on Wightlink’s second Changing Places toilet on Ryde Pier.
Fantastic! Now if they would just start running a decent ferry service instead of giving out a constant stream of lame excuses, everything will be great.
Nice to see a company worth 46 million take funding from the tax payer to open a toilet they should of had anyway. Nice amount of press there too, cuz ya cant miss a photo op to show how much you care about disabled people. If the funding was not there I doubt this would of happened. Gives the veil of equality, takes funds from the public (yes i know is there for this reason but a 49 million pound service could afford to foot the bill themselves but that would eat into profits too much, cant risk that Christmas bonus).
if you want real equality, then a facility like this should be open to all ferry users and not just those with a key to it…this would mean able bodied customers could use the toilet/shower and sink and have somewhere to change as well, rather than just reserving it for those in wheelchairs.
I can fully understand disabled-friendly facilities, but a shower room at the terminal for disabled people?
Why would anyone, able or disabled, need to take a shower before boarding or after disembarking the ferry?
The islanders will probably come and vandalise it
What about those with a hidden disability? e.g.Colostmy/Illeostomy/stoma ? Can they use those facilities ?