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Original poster

How is this even allowed (no toilets)

333 replies

girlfriend44 · 25/05/2023 22:21

A charity have a sporting session every week in a park but there are no toilets?
How's that even allowed ?
Anyone else think it's awful?
I've heard people say go behind a Bush, that's not nice or practical.

Shouldn't have too anyway, they should find a venue, where they have toilets and changing facilities?
Would you attend?

OP posts:
MintJulia · 26/05/2023 05:44

'Exactly my point, the activity should be held at the leisure centre.'

So all the park runs and cycling clubs and canoeing and orienteering that keep people healthy, active and cheerful, should all be banned because you don't like having to wee behind a bush if caught short?

Listen to yourself !!

TooBored1 · 26/05/2023 05:58

Then just don't go. It's a shame for you I appreciate, but I'm hazarding a guess that the cost of paying for a space in a leisure centre would make the activity unaffordable.

Perhaps take the initiative and scout out alternative parks, with toilets? Campaign for better spending on local facilities?

Jewelanemone · 26/05/2023 06:01

Oh God!!! Why does absolutely everything have to be available to absolutely everyone all the bloody time? Why can't people accept that, just occasionally, there might be things/events/whatever that they aren't able to do? Do people go around specifically looking for stuff that they 'can't' participate in, just so that they can bleat and moan about it?

DDivaStar · 26/05/2023 06:04

If a session outside in a park with no access to toilets doesn't suit you don't go.

kethuphouse · 26/05/2023 06:12

Pardon the pun but you’re shit out of luck if the event is in England . Access to clean and unlocked public toilets has always been an issue here. Good hygiene is not one of our strong points I’m afraid. We do not prioritise it for some strange reason.

WandaWonder · 26/05/2023 06:15

What part do you still need to drip feed?

RampantIvy · 26/05/2023 06:17

quiettimes · 26/05/2023 00:20

This possibly isn’t healthy but I’ve only used the toilet twice today - last time at around 3pm. I think I’d be alright with this set up.

You aren't drinking enough then.

I think it is unrealistic to expect all parks to have public toilets these days. Unfortunately, there have been problems with vandalism, assaults, drug dealers etc, and councils don't have the spare cash to pay attendants.

I also think it is unrealistic to provide toilets for events like park run, which is an hour at most? Surely, when you leave the house to go for a walk, bike ride or a run you don't expect to have public toilets en route? So this is no different.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:31

Jewelanemone · 26/05/2023 06:01

Oh God!!! Why does absolutely everything have to be available to absolutely everyone all the bloody time? Why can't people accept that, just occasionally, there might be things/events/whatever that they aren't able to do? Do people go around specifically looking for stuff that they 'can't' participate in, just so that they can bleat and moan about it?

I'm really, really glad that we live in a society where not everyone has this attitude.

You are entitled to your view but it is extremely ableist.

We should all be striving or a society where there is more inclusion and everyone can participate in and access activities that they want to do.

It is not beyond the capacity of local governmnent to provide decent public toilets in parks. They just don't prioritise it.

Willmafrockfit · 26/05/2023 06:32

there are no public toilets near me, nor in the nearest town

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:33

@RampantIvy It's not unrealistic to expect large public spaces like parks to have public toilets. Most parks in my area that host things like parkrun do have public toilets.

Willmafrockfit · 26/05/2023 06:33

join a rambling group,
no toilets there,
a bush is the answer

RampantIvy · 26/05/2023 06:35

It is not beyond the capacity of local governmnent to provide decent public toilets in parks. They just don't prioritise it.

It really is. Our council is so strapped for cash that they aren't even repairing the craters potholes in the roads.

The nearest public toilets to me are in the shopping centre in town 5 miles away. They have had to close the public toilets in the market town near me because they kept being vandalised.

GoodChat · 26/05/2023 06:36

Would you be willing to pay more for the activity to be held in the leisure centre in case you need a wee? They're not cheap to hire.

RampantIvy · 26/05/2023 06:38

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:33

@RampantIvy It's not unrealistic to expect large public spaces like parks to have public toilets. Most parks in my area that host things like parkrun do have public toilets.

We are rural. The "park" where they do park run isn't a municipal park, but just loads of fields behind a supermarket in a rural market town. These fields are used for annual events like the agricultural show.

There are toilets in the supermarket though, but the public toilets have been permanently closed because they kept being vandalised.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:40

RampantIvy · 26/05/2023 06:35

It is not beyond the capacity of local governmnent to provide decent public toilets in parks. They just don't prioritise it.

It really is. Our council is so strapped for cash that they aren't even repairing the craters potholes in the roads.

The nearest public toilets to me are in the shopping centre in town 5 miles away. They have had to close the public toilets in the market town near me because they kept being vandalised.

The problem is that we as a society are lowering our standards and accepting the bare minimum.

The rich are getting richer whilst basic public services are cut.

Public toilets are a minimum standard for a modern Western country and we should be outraged that they are being closed. It is ableist and to the severe detriment of people with things like IBD, Crohn's disease and incontinence going about their daily lives.

Public toilets are much better across Europe than they are in the UK. We should expect better.

Spicypeanuts · 26/05/2023 06:41

kethuphouse · 26/05/2023 06:12

Pardon the pun but you’re shit out of luck if the event is in England . Access to clean and unlocked public toilets has always been an issue here. Good hygiene is not one of our strong points I’m afraid. We do not prioritise it for some strange reason.

This. I've never understood how popular beauty spots including parks and beaches don't have toilets. It's gross. There's always reports of human waste everywhere around summer and bank holidays. Why are people surprised when there's dirty nappies and people urinating/dedicating in public when there are no public toilets to be found?

Jewelanemone · 26/05/2023 06:41

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:31

I'm really, really glad that we live in a society where not everyone has this attitude.

You are entitled to your view but it is extremely ableist.

We should all be striving or a society where there is more inclusion and everyone can participate in and access activities that they want to do.

It is not beyond the capacity of local governmnent to provide decent public toilets in parks. They just don't prioritise it.

Show quote history

I prefer 'realistic'.

I'll never be able to climb rocks as I'm not strong enough. I'll never do a sky dive because of my fear of heights. I don't hang around mountains and air fields whining because I can't join in. I go and find activities that I can do.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:42

Jewelanemone · 26/05/2023 06:41

I prefer 'realistic'.

I'll never be able to climb rocks as I'm not strong enough. I'll never do a sky dive because of my fear of heights. I don't hang around mountains and air fields whining because I can't join in. I go and find activities that I can do.

Show quote history

Skydiving and mountain climbing are in a somewhat different league to expecting to be able to spend a couple of hours at your local park.

suchasocialhierachy · 26/05/2023 06:44

Did you know there were no toilets when you started attending?

It's simple ... if it doesn't suit you then don't attend!

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 06:47

suchasocialhierachy · 26/05/2023 06:44

Did you know there were no toilets when you started attending?

It's simple ... if it doesn't suit you then don't attend!

It's not that simple, though.

People who organise events and activities for the public, by the very nature of doing so, should make efforts to make those events and activities as inclusive as possible. It's a societal responsibility to try and be fair and accessible.

If they have looked around and not been able to find a venue with toilets, fine. Of course, go ahead with it.

But anyone hosting a public event should come under some scrutiny about how inclusive and accessible that event is.

TheWelshposter · 26/05/2023 06:48

OP it would put me off attending and I would look elsewhere for an alternative class....but then I've got a weak bladder and am always looking for the nearest loo!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/05/2023 06:54

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/05/2023 01:20

Spot on, and it makes no difference what the sport is, that's why I never said.

Of course t makes a difference. If it's an activity likely to be offered in multiple venues, just go to one of those if you're bothered. If it's cricket it's a massive amount of time, tai chi could be 1/2 hour which makes a massive difference.

Anyway, why not name it? Just seems stubborn and bloody minded not to. If it's cycling... literally every outing and specifically obscure sport on MN is cycling.

Someone once did Warhammer figures, which is niche. I respected that.

It's school sports day.

It's always school sports day.

TrashyPanda · 26/05/2023 07:10

ThereIbledit · 25/05/2023 23:57

I think all venues where people expect to spend any time should have toilets. It's pretty ableist to not have them.

So all beaches should have loos?

that’s nonsensical.

Bax765 · 26/05/2023 07:16

What is the duration of the activity? That detail's important to know whether you are being unreasonable or not...

BitOutOfPractice · 26/05/2023 07:21

The activity DOES matter because if it’s dinosaur hand gliding it might be hard to find an alternative. If it’s a boot camp, they are everywhere so you can find another one.

i get that you might need the loo for whatever reason but surely you need to factor that into everything if you have a particular need, not just this mysterious activity.

the lack of (and dropping) public loos is a disgrace. But no it’s not illegal. It’s not illegal to have no loos in a cafe either. But if you don’t tell us what the bloody hell it is you do, how can we help?