TECHNOLOGY
Systems that are based on postcodes are
extremely inaccurate and therefore anyone suffering with major mobility issues cannot
rely, or take a chance on arriving into an area and finding the toilet closed/ shuttered/chained or even worse no longer available or accessible.
Launched on 19th November, the project has continued to develop from the early concepts and we now have registration, feedback and important user information built in as standard.
The map is easily found either through the Changing Places site
www.changingplaces.org or directly through
www.uktoiletmap.org and users can simply search for an individual toilet or plan a route. For those who want to register, this then opens up more options.
When you register with the Changing Places site, you will be allowed to save your favourite toilets for future reference. You can save both single units and also if you selected the route planner you will be allowed to save that journey – as it may be a regular event.
Another great feature that we have been able to install is visual recognition. Many of the toilets contained on our site have been photographed by our inspectors. When you have selected ‘Find a Toilet’ on the Front Page you will be taken to that area and shown all the known toilets that are located within a predetermined perimeter. You can immediately zoom in to focus your search in a selected area/street and you will be able to select a pin. If you click on this location then a speech bubble will appear with the actual address and below the pin will be displayed some photographs of both
52 | Tomorrow’s Cleaning December 2015
the external and the internal of the building and toilet.
If you select this location then you will be taken to the Information Profile Sheet (IPS) for this exact toilet. The IPS contains all currently available information on that site and it now offers you a Street View map so that you can more easily identify the exact location you are trying to find. This is very important for anyone living with or working with accessibility issues.
Having found the location on the map, and consequently visited the site, you are given the opportunity to give us feedback on your experience. Every message is recorded, referred and responded to by our colleagues in Mencap and Pamis. It is hoped that through this communication that we can enhance the system and the overall provision.
The map is still in its infancy and is a Pilot for us to develop. We will, of course continue to consider adding new features and updates such as big text, translation, and hearing loop – but as with all projects and programming this will take considerable additional funding to achieve.
The BTA will continue to offer advice and support to the industry and all
users on all aspects relating to the use of and maintainance of public and commercial toilets. We have been greatly encouraged to watch the development of Community Toilet schemes where local retailers and providers are working directly with the councils to help provide adequate provision for visitors and tourists. But this must be a partnership or it will not work.
We’ve been helping councils investigate the possibilities behind franchising. Turning a toilet into a revenue generator – not a drain on resources. By installing/re-configuring a business within the original space, the income can be attributed to covering the ongoing cost of the provision – or completely neutralise it. Some organisations are looking at installing charging gates/turnstiles to generate revenue, some are considering tickets/tokens charges for visiting the toilets, and others are investigating electronic/digital advertising installations to cover the costs. All these are great ideas and only go to prove that Councils do not want to close toilets – that is definitely not our experience.
www.changingplaces.org www.uktoiletmap.org
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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