After a five-year campaign a specialised toilet for people with disabilities has been opening in Brentwood High Street.

The Changing Places toilet opened over the weekend as part of the refurbishment of the toilets funded by the Assizes Trust.

The new facility includes an adult-sized changing bench, a hoist and peninsular toilet, and the room has enough space for a person using a wheelchair and their family members of carers.

Cllr Mike Le-Surf (Lab, Brentwood South) began the campaign in 2007 to get the toilets installed with the help of Kelly Bickford and John Brown from local learning disability charity Frontline.

Cllr Le-Surf said: “It has been a long campaign and has involved many people working together for the benefit of our most vulnerable citizens.

“Changing Places are vital if everyone is to be welcome in our town and enjoy Brentwood life. Brentwood just became a little bit more inclusive.”

Cllr Louise McKinlay, leader of Brentwood Council and chair of the Assizes Trust, said: “It’s a reflection of the good work of community groups that they came to us with this idea to install this great facility. I think this also shows how responsive we are to good suggestions.

“This model we have of working closely with local people also means that it’s no surprise to me that we now have the most Changing Places toilets in Essex.”

The town has two facilities in the Brentwood Centre and now one in the High Street.