Audit public toilets for accessibility

The public convenience in the central part of Buġibba, near the main pier at Dawret il-Gżejjer just below the main promenade road, is in dire need of a quality audit and upgrading not only in its appearance but mostly the facilities available for disabled persons.

On the façade and doorway there are prominent logos signalling that the public convenience is suitable for disabled persons. Yet, when one approaches the public convenience, one is left wondering how a person in a wheelchair could ever access these public conveniences since there is no sign of any usable ramp. Moreover the toilets area does not have basic sanitary facilities such as soap dispenser and toilet paper let alone grab rails, drop-down rail and other items as specified and detailed in the Access for All Design Guidelines issued by the National Commission Persons with Disability (KPND).

It is the only public convenience available in the area, considering that the nearest one for use by disabled persons is at Qawra or by the waterpolo pitch at St Paul’s Bay and hence quite far away. It is unbelievable in this day and age that in tourist Buġibba one finds a central public convenience in such a miserable and poor state.

There are no words to describe this situation 10 years after the above-mentioned guidelines were issued and the Law of Equal Opportunities was passed in Parliament. One wonders if KNPD has ever carried out an audit on the use of disabled logos in public spaces to ensure their proper use!

This public convenience is used by thousands of people – Maltese and tourists alike – and is giving the wrong impression of Malta and the Maltese. The National Parents’ Society for Persons with Disability asks for this situation to be immediately rectified. All “disabled” logos should be immediately removed until the adequate standards are met.

It is about time that all public conveniences are audited for accessibility for all, since there are others in similar states in other localities and no action appears to be taken by the local councils and authorities concerned to remove discrimination.