An accessibility campaigner in Huntingdonshire has said that she is, "grateful, overwhelmed and excited" with a new facility in her town.
Liz Owens, the founder of Access in St Neots, is a wheelchair user who has been tirelessly campaigning for better accessibility in the area.
On October 18, Liz was invited to Riverside Park in St Neots to cut the ribbon to open the new Changing Places facility at the park.
Changing Places is an accessible unisex toilet and changing room fitted with hoists, privacy curtains and changing benches. It is designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities, meaning everyone can now enjoy Riverside Park.
Liz Owen's determination to see better accessibility in St Neots was the catalyst behind the Changing Places facility in the town.
She said: "I campaigned to be heard and pursued and thankfully the town council listened and took on the next steps.
"They had to convince Huntingdonshire District Council to not only agree to the project, but to also apply for the Changing Places government grant, as well as putting the project out to tender and pushing for extra funding and working with all three councils (Town, District and County)."
Liz said that to see the project turned around in two years was "truly unbelievable".
"I feel very grateful, overwhelmed, excited, happy and hopeful, that this paves the way for better disabled access, more Changing Places in the county and awareness for everyone with a disability."
Liz was joined at the opening of the facility by Councillors Vivienne Hitchin, Stephen Ferguson, Simone Taylor, Delphine Johnson and Barry Chapman, as well as Neil Sloper, Kirsty Drew, and the Mayor of St Neots, Councillor Richard Slade.
For more information on the work that Liz Owen does at Access for St Neots, you can visit her website by clicking here.
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