The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
More accessible play equipment and facilities are being looked at for Ayscoughfee Gardens as the town’s first Changing Places toilets were officially opened there.
A £150,000 government grant was given to build the facilities at the cafe in the gardens, in Holbeach and for the Sheep Market toilets, work on which is yet to be started.
The toilets are designed to be more accessible than the standard facilities as they also include an adult changing bench and hoist as well as extra space for carers.
Users have praised its facilities.
And it’s inspired other ideas about how Ayscoughfee could be made more accessible to all.
It includes looking at installing play equipment designed to be used by all including the disabled.
Coun Elizabeth Sneath is to look into the equipment and other measures after a conversation with Nikki Clucas of Angelica Drive has two disabled children, Mia and Charlie.
Coun Sneath said: “It came firstly from Nikki who told me about how much she would like her children to have access to play equipment they can use.
“They still need the same enjoyment others get.
“I want to make the area more available for all.
“Ayscoughfee is so beautiful and I want everybody to have the best experience.
“It’s a flat area and we’ve updated the footpaths so it’s easy access.
“It just needs more options for all.
“The idea is to talk through some ideas and see what we can feasibly achieve.
“We’d also have to look for funding, but there’s lots of money pots for these kind of things.
“Boston has installed something similar as well.
“We’re also looking at other ideas such as a sensory gardens.”
Coun Sneath also praised the toilets, which have specialist measures to protect from misuse and are opened using ‘Radar’ keys.
“The feedback we’ve had has been excellent,” she said.
