Published: 16/02/2023
A FULLY- ACCESSIBLE changing room and toilet is to be installed at the La'al Ratty's Ravenglass station - providing life-changing freedoms for those with complex needs.
Copeland Council has drawn down £68,000 from the government’s Changing Places fund, designed to provide the right facilities for disabled people to wash, change and use the toilet safely and easily. The project will be delivered by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
The room will be in a converted building on platform one at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway site. It can be used by anyone, not just visitors to the railway, and out-of-hours it will remain accessible by Radar key.
Designed for those who struggle to use standard accessible toilets, the state-of-the-art facility will have additional equipment such as a hoist, adult sized changing bench and space for carers. The site already has disabled parking spaces and level access to the platform.
Mike Starkie, Elected Mayor of Copeland, said: “It’s fantastic to see another Changing Places room built – we already have one in our swimming pool at Whitehaven and it is very well used. It's also good to see we are partnering a great local business, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, to deliver it.
“It’s important everyone is able to get out and visit our top class attractions and countryside. These purpose-built facilities mean everyone can have a day out, or holiday, and know they have access to the space they need.”
Rachel Bell, Head of Marketing and Development at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, said: “To install a Changing Places venue has been on our five year accessibility action plan. Now we can convert this into reality, providing an ideal location on the west coast for placement of a Changing Places facility."
Work on the new facility will begin later this year.
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – also known as The La’al Ratty – is a seven-mile narrow gauge railway and museum in West Cumbria.
