FUNDING has been granted to provide upgraded and accessible toilet facilities at three Hampshire service stations so severely disabled people can make journeys with "more confidence and ease".

The Department for Transport, in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK, has allocated £132,000 to service station operators to build new "Changing Places" toilets with complex accessibility needs at the service stations at Winchester Northbound, Winchester Southbound and Rownhams Northbound.

Changing places toilets are larger than average toilets with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers, and these are being implemented with the aim of providing more than 250,000 severely disabled people and their carers with easier and more comfortable journeys.

Transport Accessibility Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “It is hard to overstate the importance of something as simple as an accessible area for the over 250,000 people nationwide who have a severe disability.

“I want everyone to have the confidence to travel by any means so it is incredibly important to work with Muscular Dystrophy UK to provide Changing Places facilities at the majority of service stations in England, including three in Hampshire.”

This funding for Hampshire is just one part of a £1.27m funding package to boost the installation of 37 more changing places at service stations across England, giving more and more people with complex needs the confidence to travel by road as restrictions ease.

This latest round will ensure that 87 of England’s 118 service stations will be set to have a fully accessible Changing Places toilet by the early 2020s.

Rob Burley, Director of Campaigns, Care and Support at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “We’re delighted that Rownhams and Winchester service stations have been successful in applying for funding for a Changing Places toilet. Many disabled people travel by car to get from A to B, and knowing a Changing Places toilet is available en route will be invaluable.

"Thanks to everyone working together, we have taken a big step towards ensuring Changing Places toilets will be more widely available to everyone who needs them and tackling the exclusion people face.”