Toilets are essential for disabled shoppers

I was interested to see the feature about Purple Tuesday and bringing awareness as to how to enable access for disabled shoppers (G2, 13 November). Many of the suggestions are also enabling for other potential shoppers, eg older people, pregnant women, those with small children. This is particularly the case in relation to accessible, free, unlocked toilets. This are essential, particularly for people who may be anxious. I have shopped with people who either leave a shop unable to complete a purchase because they were told they could not use the only toilet (despite the customer being registered disabled), or the whole excursion is planned around knowing where toilets are available. Toilets can provide not just a physical but also social relief. This is not just a matter of “public convenience” but a basic right that is all too often forgotten.
Carol Packham
Manchester

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