The mother of a disabled boy who needs round-the-clock care has thanked a Burton shopping centre manager after he responded to her calls for better changing facilities for disabled shoppers.

Hayley Smith, of Rolleston Road, had told the Burton Mail that she was forced to change her six-year-old son James' nappy on the floor of Coopers Square's disabled toilet as the pull-down changing table was not strong enough to support the weight of James. It is designed for use by changing babies and small children – not much larger children like James.

She asked Dave Chadfield, manager of the centre, to install facilities that could be used by parents with older disabled youngster and was thrilled when he announced plans to install a bigger worktop for disabled children to use.

Mrs Smith, 33, who is also mum to Charlie, aged nine, said the move was a "step in the right direction".

She said: "My son cannot use the disabled facilities as he has to be changed manually. In the past I have been forced to change him on the floor of the disabled toilet space which has been filthy and totally unacceptable. All I wanted was adequate facilities for my son and others who need them."

Mrs Smith said her plea came after "more and more" people told her they were struggling with the same issues.

She said: "I have heard from other mums who have been forced to change their children in the car park because there is such a lack of facilities. There is becoming more of a need for people like my son who can’t transfer on to the toilet."

Mrs Smith said it is sometimes a case of "needs must" with James, who has renal disease, Down's syndrome and metabolic disease, which means he cannot digest certain foods.

She said: "He can't use the toilet at all. He is still in nappies and has to be changed manually in the baby change area, but he is too big for it and hangs off the edge. I am always having to think about where is central and close to the toilet. It takes up a big chunk of my day. At Christmas I only go shopping when I need to as it is such a stressful experience."

Dave Chadfield, Manager of Coopers Square Shopping Centre is planning to improve some of the toilet facilities

"I know that being registered disabled you can get a disabled key online so that those who really need to use the toilet and appreciate the area always have somewhere clean and tidy to go; maybe they could look at doing something like that? I know in Tesco, in Uttoxeter, they have an actual worktop which is solid and safer and puts you more at ease. It will be interesting to see what they do and it is definitely a step in the right direction."

Mrs Smith said her son also suffers with his immune system and therefore she found it upsetting that she had to change him on the toilet floor at times.

She said: "It is so important to accommodate disabled people while shopping as it will help boost the number of visitors and their spend, but it is mostly about maintaining their dignity."

When Mrs Smith contacted Mr Chadfield about her concerns, he got to work straight away and made plans for a new changing station which will have a changing table area of 1,200mm, something that she says is a "step in the right direction".

She said: "I am happy that they have taken this on board. I know they only have the space provided but I just wanted them to consider ways to make the area better and safer for those who are disabled."

The refurbishment works are set to begin on Monday, September 25.

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