29/06/2023: New Changing Places Toilet opens at Banham Zoo

A new, fully accessible Changing Places Toilet has been officially opened at Banham Zoo. This comes after Breckland Council successfully sourced £60,000 in national funding to help Banham Zoo develop this new facility for visitors.

As one of the largest visitor attractions in Breckland, Banham Zoological Gardens is working towards being as accessible and inclusive of all communities as possible, including connecting a diverse audience with animals and nature.

Breckland Council was successful in facilitating a grant of £60,000 from Central Government's Department for Levelling-up, Housing and Communities, in conjunction with Muscular Dystrophy UK.

A Changing Places Toilet is designed to accommodate the needs of people with restricted mobility and features grab rails, a hoist system, a height-adjustable changing bench, more floor space for manoeuvrability and alarm cords.

Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth, commented: "I'm delighted to see our support has helped deliver significant funding to come into the district and help make Banham Zoo, one of Breckland leading tourist attractions, even more accessible to everyone."

Claudia Roberts, Chief Executive Officer at the Zoological Society of East Anglia stated at the official opening:"We are incredibly grateful to Breckland Council for enabling this Changing Places unit, one of our loyal members only said yesterday what a wonderful difference this will make to their visits to the zoo."

Jandre Smuts, Head of Projects, Environment, Accessibility, Capex and Energy at the Zoological Society of East Anglia, said: "We are delighted and extremely grateful to Breckland Council for facilitating the grant to deliver the Changing Places Facility at Banham Zoo. This marks a milestone achievement in the Zoological Society of East Anglia's journey and ambition to become fully accessible and inclusive."

Cllr Stephen Askew, Breckland Council's member for The Buckenhams and Banham ward, added: "This new Changes Places Toilet facility, funded via national sources and supported by Breckland Council,  means even more people can enjoy a fun day out at Banham Zoo, whilst being able to access first class accessible toilet facilities."