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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Recent introduction of fees and contactless-only payments to use toilets in some London parks

23 replies

mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 08:43

Can someone please explain this?

I've noticed this at Hyde Park and Regent's Park over the last few weeks

20p fees have been introduced and only contactless payments are accepted

What happens with vulnerable people or those with health conditions who may need to use the facilities and can't afford to or have no access to contactless cards?

What about tourists who may not have contactless cards either?

I saw a man who got frustrated and decided to urinate in the 'bushes' as a result.

How can we consider this progress? Isn't the maintenance of these facilities for public use covered by taxes already?

OP posts:
sashagabadon · 14/06/2021 08:50

I’ve noticed this too and tbh don’t mind paying but take your point re. Having a card in you. Can you put in a coin? I can’t remember.
The 20p toilets I’ve used have been nice and clean and no queuing so that could be the payoff.
Not all are paid for, some in royal parks still free so you could walk to those ones I guess. I.e the loos by the serpentine cafe are free.
Our general taxes don’t go towards the loos in royal parks. I imagine there upkeep etc is paid for by the royal parks themselves. They were hiring stewards last summer / autumn to manage the queues so bet that cost a fair bit

newnortherner111 · 14/06/2021 08:53

I'm surprised about the no cash but the basic premise of a small charge I accept.

PortMerrionCentre · 14/06/2021 09:24

That’s cheap, I had to pay 40p recently by contactless.
Though I think there was the option for coins too. I think more people will have a contactless card than a pocketful of small change

Hopdathelf · 14/06/2021 09:26

Those who can’t afford 20p can presumably use one of the free facilities within the Royal Parks estate or use a local authority park.

WorraLiberty · 14/06/2021 09:28

The big cafe by the lake is free, as are the toilets next to the lido.

Ilovemaisie · 14/06/2021 09:28

That's hardly a new concept. That's why we have the phrase "spend a penny".
Some public toilets are absolutely disgusting so I don't mind paying a fee if it goes towards them being kept clean and maintained.

WorraLiberty · 14/06/2021 09:29

Plus the toilets are nearly always busy and people just let others in on their way out through the barrier, as they close quite slowly.

ChangePart1 · 14/06/2021 09:30

I’m happy to pay and very happy for the contactless option, I never carry cash and it’s such a faff when places are card only! But do agree there should be the option to pay cash or card so that people who don’t have contactless cards are able to access it too.

Ilovemaisie · 14/06/2021 09:30

That link provided by Merry is from 6 years ago...so not new.

Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 12:32

Thank you all for the responses and thanks Merrymumoftwo for the link, as I had no idea about what was driving all of this.

I will read a bit more and come back later

OP posts:
Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 15:09

Though I think there was the option for coins too. I think more people will have a contactless card than a pocketful of small change

Yes, previously the ones that were not free were coin operated only -which I understand could be problematic, as some people don't carry small change nowadays.

But making them contactless only is also inconvenient as I know many people don't use cards (or contactless cards) for various reasons.

Contactless cards are also not implemented in many countries, so what are tourists to do (and some of these parks are main tourist attractions in London)?

More options should be provided IMO

OP posts:
Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 15:12

The big cafe by the lake is free, as are the toilets next to the lido

Good to know some will still be free, I'll bear that in mind.

Although there will be people with reduced mobility, or the elderly who will struggle as these parks are huge and it's not always easy to go from one place to the other if one is caught short

OP posts:
Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 15:27

This is from the link posted by Merrymumoftwo

There are 27 toilet blocks across the parks, which are currently free and cost The Royal Parks around £1.5m a year to clean and maintain

Apparently funding for the parks was cut in 2010 and some of these changes are only now taking place.

I know budgets are tight and £1.5m a year is a lot, but couldn't savings be made in other areas or renegotiate better deals with existing suppliers?

As I say, if anything, these places are major tourist attractions and not having something as basic as free public toilets gives out the wrong message and tarnishes the image of the capital, I think.

The toilets in Hyde Park which are next to Palace Gate are closed (presumably to allow them to install the payment machines) and the smell as you walk along the surrounding area and lanes (facing Kensington Road) is vile. Very unhygienic also. Sad

I hope they could reconsider...

OP posts:
Bitofachinwag · 14/06/2021 15:29

I don't mind paying 20p, but it is wrong that you need a contactless card for this. Just another way of monitoring our habits!

HotChocolateLover · 14/06/2021 16:35

I remember getting so frustrated when I was at the beach and the smug toilet attendant would only let in DSD as I only had 20p (I only carry my card generally) I was bursting and she seemed to take great joy in saying no, what a cow. I really resent paying for the toilet. Rant over!!

bridgetreilly · 14/06/2021 16:39

Tourists, kids etc can have contactless pre-paid cards.

I was shocked, however, to learn recently that there is no legal obligation for councils to provide public toilets, and given the huge pressure that most local authority budgets are under, I'd rather they switched to toilets with a charge than no toilets at all, which is the most likely option.

Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 17:03

it is wrong that you need a contactless card for this. Just another way of monitoring our habits

Yes, this also!

OP posts:
Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 17:23

I was bursting and she seemed to take great joy in saying no, what a cow. I really resent paying for the toilet

Yes, it's a basic necessity, really. We can skimp and rationalise many things, but this is a step too far IMO.

There's also the issue that it disadvantages women massively. For men (though disgusting) it can be a one minute job in the bushes, but not for us Confused

OP posts:
murbblurb · 14/06/2021 17:24

Toilet cleaning does not happen by magic. Carry some coins, Dumbo.

Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 17:24

I'd rather they switched to toilets with a charge than no toilets at all, which is the most likely option

Yes, that would certainly be much worse bridgetreilly

OP posts:
Original poster
mustlovegin · 14/06/2021 17:26

Toilet cleaning does not happen by magic

True, but the issue is how budget is allocated rather than not cleaning at all.

OP posts:
FlowerArranger · 14/06/2021 17:32

I remember getting so frustrated when I was at the beach and the smug toilet attendant would only let in DSD as I only had 20p (I only carry my card generally) I was bursting and she seemed to take great joy in saying no

This is so unacceptable. I'm surprised no one stepped forward to give you the 20p.

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