West Yorkshire bus stations get on board Stoma Friendly Toilets campaign.

20 December, 2023

People living with a stoma and other hidden conditions in West Yorkshire will be able to use the bus network with confidence, following new upgrades to accessible toilets at eight major Bus Stations to make them Stoma Friendly.

Thanks to projects completed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, there are now Stoma-friendly facilities at Leeds, Keighley, Pontefract, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, and Castleford Bus Stations, and Bradford Interchange which include a Hook, Shelf, Mirror, Bin, and Stoma Friendly signage.

Almost half a million people a week get the bus in West Yorkshire, and with one in 335 people in the UK living with a stoma, nearly 1,500 travellers could benefit from the upgrades.

Colostomy UK Marketing and Campaigns Manager Giovanni Cinque said: “Lack of suitable toilet facilities is a form of social exclusion for many people living with a stoma. It stops them doing many of the things that most of us take for granted, like jumping on a bus to go shopping, visit friends, or have a night out.

“A big thank you to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for joining or campaign. We hope it will encourage both people living with stomas to use their services, and other organisations to also make the simple changes to their toilets that can have such a positive impact on so many people”.

Sam Lister, Interim Bus Station Services Manager at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “We are always working to improve the experience of our passengers, so I am happy we have been able to include this measure — which could potentially help hundreds of bus users.

“Ensuring our bus stations are safe and accessible will help create a better-connected West Yorkshire for all.”

For more on Colostomy UK’s campaigns please visit

https://www.colostomyuk.org/campaigns/

For more on public transport in West Yorkshire visit

https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/improving-transport/