DISABILITY advocates in Salisbury are urging the city council to back a warning campaign they say could prevent serious injury or death in accessible toilets.

The Disability Interest Group of Salisbury (DIGS) will go before councillors this evening to seek a £500 contribution towards its Red Cord campaign, which highlights the dangers of emergency pull cords being tied up, shortened, removed or blocked.

DIGS lead Kez Adey is due to address the council’s commercial services committee as members consider funding a sticker campaign aimed at raising awareness of correct red cord use.

Campaigners say they have been raising concerns for months about the widespread misuse of emergency cords in disabled toilets, warning that when cords cannot be reached from the floor, they cease to function as a life-saving safety feature.

From the presentation the committee will hear this evening.

Kez warns that although the problem is rarely deliberate – often stemming from poor understanding or lack of awareness – the consequences can be severe.

Disabled people, older residents and children are placed at unnecessary risk when emergency cords are made unusable, with potentially grave outcomes.

The Red Cord campaign is focused on education rather than enforcement, with the aim of preventing dangerous practices before someone is harmed.

Organisers want to engage residents, schools and businesses and improve understanding of why cords must hang freely to floor level.

Councillors meeting this evening are expected to consider and agree a sticker design for printing and distribution.

Council papers state the entire campaign could be delivered for less than £500, covering printing, materials, distribution in community settings, optional small-scale online promotion and basic contingency costs.

DIGS says the proposal represents a low-cost, high-impact way to improve safety awareness across the city.

The committee will meet this evening at 6.30pm at The Guildhall to discuss the campaign.