Have you heard about the toilet seat that tiIts you forward and downward several degrees? Mainstream media has majored on the fact that it was designed to save employers money and reduce queues for toilets by preventing 'social media breaks', since it becomes uncomfortable very quickly - just like the seating in fast food restaurants. Reading something about shorter toilet breaks impacting on the growing use of flexible zero hours contracts made me a bit cross and less inclined to believe that the design had been approved by the British Toilet Association, as the manufacturer claimed.

As one of the original Council members of the BTA when it was formed 20 years ago, I'm well aware that it's a highly professional body that knows all about the technicalities and legalities involved in designing washrooms and what goes into them, as well as the extra problems faced by disabled and elderly users. That it would endorse something that might cause hardship to those with bowel issues didn't quite sit right so I gave the director a call.

What I learnt about the accessibility benefits of the design, along with hygiene advantages that hadn't occurred to me, is not to be sniffed at. Nor is what I discovered about the way the human body works. I'd thought the 'squatting' method that's healthiest warranted a seat angled backwards, rather than forwards - but there's more to it than I'd realised.

While we're all enjoying the Christmas break, I'm going to be speaking at greater length to my ex-colleague to find out more about this new toilet, and you can read my article early in the New Year - but probably not in our first issue which will be with you week ending 10th January. In the meantime, I'd love to know what you think about the tilting seat and whether your design team - if you're involved in bathroom manufacture, has ever considered the concept!

Until then, let me wish you a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

Yours,

Jan Hobbs