WHEELCHAIR users in Rudheath have launched an appeal for proper accessible toilets at a popular community hub.

At the moment, disabled visitors to the Venue Community Centre in Rudheath, opposite Robert's Bakery, have to go outside, travel around the side of the building, and up a ramp to get to the accessible toilet on the upper level.

Rudheath parish, Northwich town, and Chester West and Chester councillor, Olwyn Dean, who uses a wheelchair herself, says this is ‘unacceptable’, especially in the winter, at night, or in bad weather.  

It also puts restrictions on how the various rooms in the building can be let out for use by community groups and for private events – a vital source of revenue to help with the centre's upkeep. 

At the moment, there is a large gent's toilet on the ground floor which, with remodelling, would make an ideal unisex accessible toilet, but converting it will cost around £8,000.

As the centre doesn’t have the money at present, Cllr Dean has launched a Spacehive funding platform to help raise the much-needed funds.

She said: “At the moment, me and other wheelchair users have to be let out the fire doors, go up the side of the building, then be let in through the doors upstairs just so we can use the accessible toilet.

“Obviously, this isn’t acceptable.

“We then have to do the same trip in reverse to get back to the hall.

“Our plan will see the gents converted into an accessible unisex toilet.

"The urinals will be removed, one of the toilets reconfigured to create an accessible toilet, and the wall taken away to allow wheelchair users to access the toilets.

“A fold down changing table for babies will also be included.

“It will also mean the upper and lower levels of the building can be hired separately, and anyone with mobility issues can access toilets on both levels.”

The Venue hosts a raft of community-focused events, including a residents' café, music rehearsals, slimmers’ groups, events for carers, and antenatal sessions.  

For more information about the project, or to contribute towards it, please visit the project's Spacehive page.

Cllr Dean added: “We’re appealing to anyone who wants to make a real difference to disability discrimination to give a few pounds, or whatever they can afford.”