Clyde Shopping Centre more accessible thanks to local woman

Jill Clark began campaigning back in 2017 for the local mall to install a changing place – a fully accessible toilet – to help people with disabilities comfortably use the bathroom.

The changing place will ensure everyone is able to use the toilet at Clyde Shopping Centre (Image: Jill Clark)The 31-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, told the Post that she was inspired to keep up her fight as she frequently had to cut her weekly visits short due to being unable to use the centre’s toilets.

The facility has a hoist (Image: Jill Clark)Jill said: “I started calling for a changing place to be installed because Clyde is my local shopping centre and we are down there every week.

“However, I couldn’t get to the toilet because I require a hoist and there wasn’t one. Having a changing place will benefit a lot of people, especially myself.

“Before the facility opened I used to worry every time I went to the centre knowing that I couldn’t get to the toilet and sometimes I needed to cut time there short.

“I am excited to go for a cappuccino now and not have to worry.”

After six years of calls for the popular shopping spot to invest in the facility, it was finally installed last week.

Jill explained that despite ‘frustrating’ delays this was “the best Christmas present” she could have wished for.

She added: “When I heard it had opened I just jumped straight in the car and went to see it. I know it’s just a toilet but the changing place opening in the centre was the best Christmas present for me.

“It took six years because of how long it took to get everything passed and the Covid pandemic. It was frustrating but it was so worth it.

“I kept pushing for it because it is an essential facility to have and everyone should be able to access a toilet wherever they go.

“Everyone should be included.”

The Knightswood resident has not received any feedback on the facility as of yet but is urging anyone who has benefitted from it to get in touch.

A Clyde Shopping Centre spokesperson said: “We are very pleased to be able to bring this vitally important service to Clydebank.

"It’s a project that we’ve been working on for some time, so we are delighted to announce that it is now open and fully operational.

"We would also like to thank Jill Clark and Shopmobility for all of the advice and support which was invaluable in helping us in our mission to bring a changing place facility to Clyde Shopping Centre.”