Client: Bromsgrove Council
Type of works: supply and installation of Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers in public toilets.

Bromsgrove Council recently embarked on the renovation of public toilets in the town. They are paying particular attention to the disabled washrooms – supporting the national Changing Places scheme by offering better facilities to the disabled community.

“The first building we looked at was an Access Centre for disabled people and their carers, on the outskirts of town,” explains Partnerships & Projects Manager, Martin Ashcroft. “We assembled a small team – each member assigned to a certain job. I looked for things like soap dispensers, taps and hand dryers. It was important to understand how these fixings would be used, especially by the disabled community.”

Martin visited the NEC’s Cleaning Show for ideas and watched a Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer demonstration. “I went to the show to find something suitable for the project and was very impressed with the Dyson Airblade™ machine,” adds Martin.

“It’s hygienic to use, dries hands very quickly and there’s no on/off button – so it fits perfectly with the rest of our automatic equipment and means the washrooms are very easy to use.”

A total of six Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers were installed in both the male, female and in the new Changing Places washroom, which went through a total conversion. In fact, Bromsgrove Council was awarded the “Loo of the Year 2009” award for unattended public washrooms – helped in part by the Dyson machines.

“The response has been excellent”, explains Martin. “Cleaning staff aren’t finding handfuls of waste paper towels on the floor, so we’re saving money. And people actually enjoy using the Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer – it’s a real talking point.”