Basic facilities must be provided for the needs of everyone across East Antrim, Alliance representative Danny Donnelly has said.

Councillor Donnelly, recently selected as constituency representative in support of Stewart Dickson MLA, was speaking ahead of the opening of the Changing Places facility in Carnfunock Country Park, the first in East Antrim.

“Changing Places toilets provide the opportunity for those with disabilities or limited ability to be able to be changed on an appropriately sized changing table, rather than on the floor. There is a larger space than the current design of disabled toilet, allowing carers to assist the person safely,” he said.

“Without them, using disabled facilities in their current format can be dangerous, unhygienic and undignified. As a major attraction in East Antrim, both for locals and those from further afield, Carnfunock Country Park is the perfect location for the first Changing Places facility here and will encourage more families of people with additional needs to come to the location.

“I recently proposed Mid and East Antrim Borough Council make sure all its public events are fully accessible by providing Changing Places facilities, and that is something I will continue to pursue. As we come through the other side of the pandemic, we cannot simply go back to the way things were before. It is vital we focus on the needs of individuals to strengthen our entire community and that includes providing basic facilities for the needs of every person in East Antrim.”