New toilets open up Stirling - and Scotland's - tourism and scenery to disabled people
Locals in Tyndrum have opened up the wonders of Scotland to more people with disabilities thanks to a seven year campaign to build a Changing Places Toilet in the village.
Tyndrum Infrastructure Group (TIG), in collaboration with The Green Welly Stop, has officially opened the facility at The Green Welly Stop.
Until the opening of the CPT this week, there were no suitable facilities for disabled people in an area of the West of Scotland the size of Wales, preventing disabled people from travelling to the West Coast or taking a day out with the same level of dignity and comfort enjoyed by the rest of the population.
The project was made possible thanks to a major award from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with further funding support from the Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and Forth Valley & Lomond Community Led Local Development fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK Government's commitment to communities, allocated £4.3 million to Stirling Council to distribute to local groups and businesses.
The campaign to build a CPT in Tyndrum was launched seven years ago by Sarah Heward, the founder and co-owner of The Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum, after her father became ill and died from a degenerative neurological illness.
Changing Places Toilets are for disabled people and those with life-limiting conditions, their families and carers, for whom a standard accessible toilet is not adequate to meet their needs.
Geographically, Tyndrum is a strategic hub in Scotland with millions of vehicles passing through each year.
The Green Welly Stop kindly offered to provide not only the land required free of charge but also all management and care of the facility to ensure a well-maintained facility for those in need.
Sarah said: 'We were extremely fortunate to have been awarded the funding necessary to build the facility in Tyndrum, after so many years of campaigning and fundraising; this Changing Places Toilet will be transformational for those who need it.
'There were so many obstacles to building this facility in Tyndrum, starting with access to suitable land, so we were incredibly grateful that Edward and Fiona Robertson, owners of The Green Welly Stop, came forward with the offer of a plot to build it, without which the project wouldn't have happened.
'The financing to date has come largely from the UK Government via Stirling Council, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Forth Valley and Lomond Community Led Local Development Fund.
'It has not been an easy campaign to manage and has been extremely disheartening at many points.
'However, our small community-based charity remained focused on our vision of building a CPT in Tyndrum, and today really is a testament to what can be achieved through community coming together with a strong vision.'
Kim Kemp, Member of the Tyndrum Infrastructure Group and a Changing Places Toilet user said: 'No one wants to go on a day out knowing that they will have no access to toilet facilities, particularly families who have a child with a complex disability.
'Now that the Changing Places Toilet has opened in Tyndrum, people will be able to enjoy days out in one of Scotland's most beautiful tourist spots and travel through the Highlands.'
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK Government's commitment to communities, allocated £4.3 million to Stirling Council to distribute to local groups and businesses.
In total, 29 projects across Stirling have now received financial support, delivering a wide range of benefits to communities.
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey said: 'The opening of this Changing Place Toilet is a major achievement for the local community and is the result of their hard work and perseverance over a number of years.
'The new facility will allow people with complex disabilities and those who care for them to visit this stunning part of Scotland without anxieties about accessing appropriate toilet facilities.
'It's fantastic to see the funding being used for such an important project that will make a real difference to local people and visitors alike and ensure opportunities are available to all.
'Congratulations to everyone involved for completing this project, with the facility now available for visitors from all the world to use as we enter the peak tourist season.'
The Changing Place Toilet at the Green Welly Stop will be open seven days a week from 7am to 10pm. Please refer to www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk for seasonal time changes.
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