Monday October 13th 2025
[photo_c cap=”Changing Places Toilet (CPT)”]
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A proposed new near-£118k toilet facility in Hawick will provide dignity, safety, and inclusion for towns people and visitors with complex care needs and their carers.
Hawick Development Trust aims to provide a modular Changing Places Toilet (CPT) at The Wee Haugh, a high-footfall riverside public space hosting community events such as Tunes by the Teviot and the Reivers Festival
A Changing Places Toilet is an accessible sanitary facility with a toilet, hoist, washbasin, adult-sized changing bench and optional shower with adequate space for use by persons with a range of disabilities who may require assistance.
Changing Places toilets offer larger sanitary facilities that address the needs of people with complex care needs and support them to take part in everyday activities such as family day outings, shopping, attending a concert or sporting event.
Currently, Hawick lacks a Changing Places Toilet, creating barriers for disabled people and carers.
This limits participation in events, community life, and tourism.
The nearest such facility is currently at the Galashiels Interchange.
There are ‘disabled’ toilets in some facilities, such as the Heart of Hawick, but these tend to be wider cubicles with no hoist so people with complex needs are unable to change in comfort, ease or safety.
The project is fund-ready, strategically aligned, and community-supported — ensuring Hawick becomes more inclusive, accessible, and attractive for all by March 2027.
This week a bid was being submitted to Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee to request permission for the toilet provision to be provided at the Wee Haugh.
It is estimated that the annual maintenance costs of running the toilet facility each year would be in the region of just over £14,000.
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