Call for better access to public disabled toilets in Wrexham

After moving to Wrexham in the 1960s, the two brothers, who did not want to be named, frequently return to their home town despite moving to Penmaenmawr along the North Wales coast.

During their most recent visit on Friday, July 12, they had been visiting a cafe when they noticed the premises did not have a functioning customer toilet. In a hurry to leave, they walked to the public restroom situated at the bottom of Town Hill.

The public disabled restroom, Town Hill Wrexham.

Due to a long-term health condition, the 67-year-old is registered disabled and has a radar key to access disabled toilets. However, not only did they discover the door already unlocked, but the cubicle had clearly been used for storage.

Filled with miscellaneous objects stacked up to the ceiling, there was no way to remove the items and use the facility without causing further inconvenience.

The younger brother said: "We can understand the toilets being permanently closed due to alleged antisocial activities, and do not blame the Parish Public House for storing their items in there as I understand they would have been granted permission to do so.

"However, a simple notice on the doors stating that they are out of use, and directions to other disabled facilities in the town would have avoided any misunderstanding."

The men had parked near Bellevue Park and so opted to try the public toilets there to discover the cubicle had been padlocked shut.

MOST READ

• Dangerous driver hit two people while driving through roadworks, court told
• Readers' views on plan for monthly bin collections in Flintshire as petition launched
• "Use us, don't abuse us" - Paramedic's plea after patient spat in his face

"At this point, my brother had no choice but to empty his Ileostomy bag in the bushes in order to avoid an accident", he said.

"I myself had to wait until we stopped in a garage shop in Llangollen to use the toilet there.

"The whole situation brought into focus that this gradual but continuous retraction of simple facilities that we could once take for granted can have a greater impact on some than others.

"It made me realise how difficult it must be for people with limiting health problems to live an ordinary life."

For the brother who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 23-years-old, it felt like a huge step back.

He added: "Problems like this, including access to adequate facilities in one form or another, either when traveling or visiting places, or even at work, are commonly encountered by people affected in this way. 

"It becomes a primary reason for staying home instead."

In response, a spokesperson from Wrexham Council said: "The toilets on Town Hill are not currently in use for the public.

"However we apologise for the inconvenience caused and will review the signage and access to ensure there is no further confusion.”