A MOTHER forced to change her disabled son on the floors of public toilets has successfully campaigned to improve facilities in the New Forest.

Sarah Brisdion, whose six-year-old son Hadley has cerebral palsy, set up the online community group Hadley’s Heroes in a bid to bring about better disabled toilet facilities.

She said when out and about with his family, Hadley often faces the “undignified and unsanitary prospect of being changed on the toilet floor” because standard disabled toilets do not meet his needs.

Hadley’s condition means he uses a wheelchair, is unable to stand and wears nappies.

“Changing somebody you love on a toilet floor is soul-destroying and it can be very dangerous too, lifting somebody from mobility equipment and laying them amongst the thousands of germs present on a toilet floor. But without changing benches or hoists in accessible toilets, this is exactly what families like mine face every day, or we have to choose to not go out at all,” she said.

“Sadly there is very little public awareness of these issues and so most accessible toilets do not include these vital pieces of equipment. That’s something I’m working very hard to change."

When New Forest District Council’s senior streetscene supervisor, Stewart Phillips, heard about the situation, he got in touch with Sarah to see what could be done to improve facilities in the area.

Plans are now in place to replace public toilets in Old Milton Road, New Milton and Bath Road, Lymington with more accessible facilities. Work has already started in New Milton and both will be completed by April.

Both public toilets will have dedicated changing facilities with ceiling hoists and height-adjustable changing beds.

Hadley’s Heroes has now named the council as one of its ‘heroes’ for its response to Sarah’s campaign.

Cllr Sophie Beeton, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "We are very pleased to be able to support the needs of our residents and provide facilities that cater for every member of our community. These new toilets are a great example of how, by listening to and working with local people, we can make a big difference to people’s lives.

"We’re very proud to be named one of Hadley’s Heroes and grateful to Sarah for bringing this important issue to our attention."

During the build, the nearest alternative public toilets in New Milton will be in Spencer Road, and in Lymington they will be on the quay.