The Motorway Service Campaign

Accrington based Changing Places toilet user and campaigner Zack Kerr, undertook a road trip from Accrington to South Wales in 2017. This is where the Changing Places toilet provision on the Motorway campaign started. On this 260-mile journey, Zack required toilet stops, but despite calling at all services, no suitable toilet facilities were available. Zack acknowledges that he needs the help of parents and carers to use the toilet and often had to had to be changed on a toilet floor or use a baby changing room.  He was clear at the time that everyone should be able to use accessible toilet facilities, regardless of their needs or disabilities.  As there was no changing place facility for Zack to use on this journey, he started an online petition to raise awareness of the issue, and to try and get Changing Place toilets installed in all UK motorway services.

 In 2017, there were just 12 on the UK’s motorway network. Zack’s campaign was supported by Changing Places UK gathering pace very quickly achieving 140,000 signatures in just a few weeks through significant media attention. Around the same time a consultation to inform the Accessibility Action Plan AAP commenced for which the DfT carefully considered the campaign as part of the consultation.

The DfT then confirmed in January 2018 that they were working closely with MSA operators to understand how better facilities might increasingly be provided as part of their investment and renewal plans. A taskforce was assembled which looked at the issue of accessibility at MSAs looking at the design and facilities. This taskforce commissioned independent advice on the options and potential levers to increase wellbeing of all MSA visitors.  Following the consultation, the Government announced in July 2018 a substantial investment in Changing Places toilets across the MSAs, and that’s where our work commenced partnering with the DfT to work with the motorway service operators to install CPTs across England’s motorway service network.