TOILETS and changing areas for older children with disabilities may appear in Exeter after local mums joined a campaign by the charity Mencap.

Devon County Council has allocated £42,000 from the sale of Exeter International Airport to install toilet changing facilities in three locations across the county.

Exeter, which currently has no changing facilities in any of its public toilets for older disabled people, is currently listed as one of the three potential sites for the money to be spent.

The Echo reported yesterday how two mums from Exeter were backing a Mencap campaign for Changing Places facilities to be provided in the city. Now the county council has said it is working with Mencap as part of a national scheme to enable people with learning disabilities to lead ordinary lives.

The facilities will help youngsters take part in activities such as shopping, meeting friends, going to the cinema or eating out.

"At present, for some people with profound disabilities, these everyday activities are not possible, because there are no adequately equipped toilet and changing facilities," said learning disability health and social care service manager Sue Foxton-Price.

"Because these facilities do not exist, people are not going out, or have to return home after a short while."

The council is already in discussions about potential sites in Totnes, Bideford and Exeter but has contacted all district, town and parish councils to see if there is demand elsewhere before a final decision is made.

Aileen Hamer, who has two children with disabilities who have both recently won awards, wrote to the Echo this week about the facilities.

She said: "People with profound and multiple learning disabilities need Changing Places toilets — with a hoist, changing bench and space.

"Carers have enough to contend with. Let's not make their lives harder by denying them the right to basic public facilities."

Exeter City Council said it currently had no plans to install Changing Places facilities at any of its public toilets, but the matter could be considered in the future.

A spokesman said: "If any refurbishment or new build is approved then the provision of such a facility will be considered and is likely to be viewed as a high priority if in the city centre area.

"Exeter has good general disabled facilities in 19 of its 26 public toilets and 11 also have baby changing facilities."