Back in 2012 we had a campaign to highlight the lack of accessible toilets in Listed Buildings. Something English Heritage says is unfair as it’s our heritage too. We have subsequently used the directives in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Equality Act 2010, as ammunition when faced with lack of ‘accessibility’ i.e. Clause 10 of UNCRPD says people have an inherent right to life and

 “its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.”

Trying to Enjoy Life at Cafe Murano Covent Garden - Designer Could've Removed Inner Door as a Reasonable Adjustment!
Trying to Enjoy Life at Cafe Murano Covent Garden – Designer Could’ve Removed Inner Door as a Reasonable Adjustment!

Similarly the Equality Act says that service providers have a

“duty to make reasonable adjustments” with regard to accessibility.

DT at German Gymnasium - As Beautiful as the Able Bodied Toilets - In a Grade II Listed Building - It Can Be Done
DT at German Gymnasium – As Beautiful as the Able Bodied Toilets – In a Grade II Listed Building – It Can Be Done
And Again at Stuttgart Airport .........Hoist Included
And Again at Stuttgart Airport ………Hoist Included

So we’re covered right…Wrong! Service providers are continually flouting the ‘reasonable adjustments’ clause when it comes to providing disabled toilet facilities.

A 'Ludicrous Loo' at Sanctum Hotel Soho - Lack of Care & Design Makes This Unusable to Most Less Able People. It's also the Nominated DT for Nopi the Next Door Restaurant - 2X Ludicrous!!
A ‘Ludicrous Loo’ at Sanctum Hotel Soho – Lack of Care & Design Makes This Unusable to Most Less Able People. It’s also the Nominated DT for Nopi the Next Door Restaurant – 2X Ludicrous!!
Spacious but could do with another hand rail or two - How Careless
Spacious but could do with another hand rail or two – How Careless
A Corker of a Stupid DT at Heston's Dinner in the Mandarin Hotel Knightsbridge
A Corker of a Stupid DT at Heston’s Dinner in the Mandarin Hotel Knightsbridge – A Large Room is Not a Disabled Toilet!!

As recent as this week, we were told by Wandsworth Council that the Schoolhouse bar & restaurant in Battersea doesn’t need to put in a disabled toilet as ‘it’s in an old building’ and they only need to do this for ‘new builds’. Shame on Wandsworth, the place in question has toilets on the ground floor which could easily have been adapted for use by disabled people. If there’s lack of room then just make one toilet for all – hence the Campaign “All 4 One & One 4 All”. In despair we hope this will be a “reasonable adjustment”!

If you agree contact us  and send photos of places where there are  NO “reasonable adjustments”. We want to take the worst culprits to court and name & shame the rest.

Leave a Reply

  1. Helen Sarfo

    Disables toilet in paediatric outpatient I could barely get my daughters electric wheelchair in let alone walk round it safely absolute joke, don’t get me started on why disabled toilets don’t have hoists and suitable changing benches….

    1. Fiona Jarvis Listing Owner

      Thank you for your input do you have a specific place we can name and shame?

  2. angela may

    it IS possible to do- Elmwood College is a prime example

    1. Fiona Jarvis Listing Owner

      Yes, can you send more details or photos?