Tavistock campaigner seeks improved toilet accessibility

Paula Butler, founder of the support group West Devon Somates, is campaigning to improve the accessibility of public and private toilets in Tavistock. The initiative aims to ensure facilities in town squares, hotels, shops, GP surgeries, and bus stations are better equipped for stoma users, pregnant women, new mothers, and individuals with abdominal or prostate issues.

Butler’s campaign requests that all accessible toilets include specific amenities: a shelf for hygiene products and clothing, hooks on the door, a full-length mirror, and a bin. She noted that the current lack of suitable facilities can cause stress and lead to social isolation for those with bowel or bladder conditions.

In her efforts to demonstrate demand, Butler has consulted local GP surgeries, noting that two facilities alone serve over 1,200 patients with incontinence, stomas, or related conditions. The campaign is receiving support from the charity Colostomy UK.