Work to improve the public toilets in Green Street in Truro and provide a new Changing Places facility at the site will officially begin in November.
The current public toilets, which are located next to the city’s main bus station, will close to the public on Thursday, 16 November and will then remain closed until the beginning of March 2024, whilst the refurbishment works are carried out. A new fully accessible Changing Places toilet – the first public facility to be provided in the city centre – will be constructed, and a new disabled parking space and a mural will also be provided as part of the scheme.
The 14 week project is being delivered through a partnership between Truro City Council, Cornwall Council and Truro Town Deal Board.
In 2021 the Truro Town Deal Board successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £23.6 million from the government’s Towns Fund Scheme. Each of the towns selected by the government to work towards a Town Deal were also invited to apply for Accelerated Funding to invest in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places ‘build back better’ in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Truro was awarded £750,000 of Accelerator Funding which has been used to deliver a range of projects aimed at supporting the community and making the city centre a better place for everyone to enjoy. These have included providing event equipment, including a new mobile stage, market gazebos and Christmas illuminations; new seating and planting in the city centre; bike stands and notice boards and a revamped community centre.
The Truro Town Deal Board is providing £180,000 of Accelerator Funding for the Green Street toilets scheme, with a £20,000 Changing Places grant coming from a successful Cornwall Council funding bid to the government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Designed for people who struggle to use standard accessible toilets, Changing Places toilets provide additional equipment such as adult sized height adjustable changing benches, height adjustable wash basins, hoists, privacy screens and space for carers.
Truro Mayor Cllr Carol Swain is welcoming the start of work on the long-awaited scheme to refurbish the Green Street toilets and provide the city centre’s first Changing Places facility.
“The City Council is committed to meeting the needs of all our residents and visitors“she said. “As well as providing much improved public toilets in the centre of Truro right next to the bus station for everyone to use, the addition of the new Changing Places toilet will mean people with disabilities and their families will be able to visit our city with confidence that there is access to these types of facilities”.
Cornwall Council has been working in partnership with the City Council for the new Changing Places toilet in Truro city centre following the successful bid for government funding.
Cornwall Council submitted the funding bid after receiving proposals from several town and parish councils, with input from residents and their carers who use these facilities.
Nearly £236,000 was awarded to Cornwall by the government for the new facilities in Falmouth, Redruth, Seaton, St Ives, Truro and Wadebridge.
Cllr Carol Mould, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, said: “This new facility in Truro will provide much improved access for disabled residents and fits with our aim for people to live in vibrant, safe, supportive communities.
