People who suffer from bladder and bowel conditions may soon be able to use toilets in public buildings across Lancaster and Morecambe if they urgently need to go.
Councillors are looking to back the 'Just Can't Wait' toilet card scheme which gives people access to toilets not normally open to the general public.
Around 170,000 people - who suffer from illnesses and conditions which mean they may need the toilet urgently - already carry the 'Just Can't Wait' card scheme across the country.
It was set up by Bladder and Bowel UK and is recognised and supported by many retail and service organisations nationwide.
A group of Labour councillors, led by Councillor Jean Parr (pictured below), are calling for Lancaster City Council to support the scheme.
They want the council to become a partner for the 'Just Can't Wait Card' scheme so that all council public buildings, such as Morecambe and Lancaster town halls and The Storey in Lancaster, are accessible for those carrying this card.
"Many people across the district suffer from illnesses/conditions which can be debilitating, ranging from incontinence to stoma surgery," says a council report.
"These conditions can lead to them needing the emergency use of toilet facilities urgently.
"The Bladder & Bowel community have established the 'Just Can't Wait Toilet Scheme' which enables people to carry a card and enables businesses and organisations to allow emergency access to toilet facilities.
"People have told the Bladder and Bowel Community that they are trapped in their own homes due to the lack of public toilets and the fear of being caught short.
"There are over 14 million people in the UK living with a bladder condition and 6.4 million with a bowel condition with thousands suffering across Lancashire desperately in need of emergency access to toilet facilities."
The report also says: "Most of the council’s buildings open to the public already have toilet facilities available to the public when the building is open.
"Therefore, there are no known issues with allowing this to continue and ensuring holders of the 'Just Can’t Wait' card can access these facilities. "There are some practical considerations for access to The Platform via the Visitor Information Centre so access will be dependent on staff availability. It isn’t clear what is involved in becoming a partner of the 'Just Can’t Wait' scheme other than allowing access to facilities.
"Any other requirements and costs would need to be considered."
As part of Councillor Parr's recommendation, the council chief executive Mark Davies is also being asked to write to local town and parish councils, as well as city council suppliers and business partners across the district, to encourage them to join the scheme.
The recommendation will go before a vote of Lancaster city councillors at the next meeting of full council, to be held on Wednesday November 9 at 6pm at Morecambe Town Hall.
Dropped kerbs in Lancaster will "make a real and meaningful difference to people's lives"
LISTEN: Ice cream day held to remember figurehead of Lancaster hospice
Morecambe cheerleaders backflip their way to double international gold
LISTEN: How you can help save vital Lancaster animal shelter
Calls for Lancaster restaurant to lose licence over use of illegal workers and unpaid fines
New era beckons for Morecambe pub after 18 years of Lancaster Brewery ownership
Morecambe West End Pride in Place Board holds inaugural meeting
Plaque unveiled to officially name carved owls known as 'Guardians of Carnforth'
Public urged to be vigilant about counterfeit currency in Lancashire
Reminder as every-three-weeks bin collections due to start soon
Climate change and Local Government Reorganisation talks to be held in Lancaster
Plans to spend £72m on roads after Reform UK sets first Lancashire County Council budget
Digital bus timetables installed in Morecambe and Heysham
£1.5 million funding will empower ‘Our Bay Our Future’ to grow green jobs
Police issue warning over ‘urban exploring’ of abandoned buildings in Lancaster
Dispersal order in place after up to 50 youths brawl in Morecambe town centre
Life-saving kit handed to Morecambe FC after Manchester Arena inquiry
"Big difference" as new food recycling scheme rollout continues in Lancaster and Morecambe area
Crews tackle wheelie bin fire in Lancaster
Tory's speech likened to "ramblings of Donald Trump" as Lancaster City Council sets budget
