To expect the toilet in the park to be open?

[PassingStranger]

Lots of people in the park today as it's a Sunny Bank Holiday.
Picnics, walks, bike rides etc.
Council closed all the toilets how crazy?
Talk about not care about people?

So everyone in politics is corrupt? Every single person? I think it’s far too easy to brush swathes of people with the same brush and it’s also lazy and untrue.

I don’t know where you live but there are definitely people involved in politics where I live who are trying to help. I also work pan-Wales and have seen the gruesome and the good. Believe you me, part of my job is advocacy. I’m not on the fringes. You just sound completely jaded and fair enough if you are, but whinging into the abyss doesn’t help anyone. What’s that saying - be the change you want to see?

As explained in previous post, i know

Because selling ice cream and drinks makes money, and opening toilets costs money. It's not rocket science is it?

I have IBS and i have to starve myself all day if i go out because of the lack of toilets i cant risk it.

Don't even go there with "consultants", TheHateIsNotGood

That's partly how our local library service ended up hived off to a funding sponge "community empowerment charity", which as mentioned cost us all far more than the council had been spending on it
Classic example: £20k extra was granted to them for PPE equipment during Covid, and "spent" on 12 perspex screens and a box of hand gel, which actually cost less than £2000 in total ... no questions raised by council staff of course, who when asked give you the thousand yard stare

Oh, and the "consultant" turned out to work for that charity - but not any more, because with a dreadful inevitability he's now been employed by the council instead

Where do they go to the toilet if they've eaten and drank.

YANBU to wish they were open, but YABU to 'expect' them to be open.
Our parks haven't had toilets for years and years.

Austerity, and the massive cuts to LA Budgets made by the Government means that councils can only afford to provide what they are legally obliged to - "Statutory Services". Everything else has gone, bit by bit over the last 14 years, but people only notice when there is a specific thing that affects them personally.
Perhaps people need to remember when they vote in the General Election.

Councils have no money to fix roads or pay for social care but they appear to have money to 'improve' roads with bus and cycle lanes to reduce congestion by making it worse.

It is priorities, spending money on things nobody asked for rather than core services

They've got toilets, they had 4 put in a few years ago, there's also a children's splash pad.
They weren't open, not one of the four.
I'm sure the pub appreciates the lady selling ice cream etc telling everyone they can use their toilet. Not.

So everyone in politics is corrupt? Every single person?

Your words not mine, @Arlanymor, though at least you added a "?" to them

I couldn't possibly say if all in politics are corrupt because I haven't met all of them; I can only say that, with a few honourable exceptions, the scores I've worked alongside have been either incompetent, self interested or corrupt and sometimes all three

And yes, after decades of this I'm the first to admit I've become jaded; it's called long experience, sadly now shared by many in the current cohort of those "trying to make a difference" who realise their task is all uphill

Eh? Those were my words, but those words formed part of a question, hence fact there was a question mark after each. I asked you a question. Each time I ask a person a question there will be words in that question. You can answer or not, I’m not trying to put words in your mouth, just ask simple questions.

Sorry that is your experience and that you’ve given up. Glad we could have a reasonable back and forth about it though, because a lot of stuff on here descends into rudeness and madness.

I’m going to keep trying at the ripe age of 45 to make the world a better place within the parameters of a democratic system.

The first thing to understand about Local Councils is the difference between paid Officers/Employees and elected Councillors.

In most non-city councils the elected Councillors come from a very small batch of people who are able to devote lots of time for very little and have thick enough skins to deal with the vast amounts of shit thrown at them. They may be political, they may actually care about their local area and, if they think their own 'interests' may be furthered by it, unlikely nowadays.

Now the paid Officers/Employees are a different kettle of fish entirely, usually very well paid for what they do, without the flak, yet with the powers to advise, spend and make decisions. They go unchecked unless a Councillor takes them to task, often redefined as 'bullying', etc.

And no, I have no skin in that game - just an observation.

They think people don't need to do their business when outside.
I find there are so many parks that don't have any toilet facilities. I'd be happy to pay if there was any. But they get trashed.

I have no skin in the game either.

You think paid employees just do what they want until checked? None of them can possibly be good people doing their best?

Pretty fucking disgusting not to be able to have open toilets which will mean people just end up
urinating or defecating in the park. Not everyone can wait 30/40 minutes to get back home. And ultimately, if it continues people who are elderly or disabled, or pregnant, or have urgency issues will just have to stay at home as they can't risk going out and not having access to a toilet. How is that acceptable?!?

We also have no fucking dentists, a health service that is falling apart (with ridiculously long waiting lists), councils spreading collections out further and further (leading to unpleasant smells and rat issues, potholes not getting fixed, I could go on and on.

We should be rioting in the streets about this, not just going "oh well, that's ok because they don't have any money"!?!

I’m not saying it’s ok, I’m saying there is a reason.

Also you didn’t read the bit about my own dad - but rant away I guess?

I have gone on marches for a lot of the concerns you raise - have you, or do you just want to rant at me who is not responsible for anyone of it?

Unfortunately people vandalise them, don't (basically) clean after use, take drugs in them etc so unless they are able to staff them most councils close them. If people showed respect for public facilities then they could remain open

Shameful.

What must people from other countries European countries think!

You haven’t mentioned your dad in your post. And your post is written pretty fucking flippantly as if not having enough money is a good enough reason to close all the toilets. If you want people to reply to something you haven’t written I suggest including it in your posts. I’m not a mind reader.

There are public toilets at the beach and park near me but they cost 50p, people are constantly moaning about the cost but there's a full time attendant and they are actually decent to use. Perhaps this is the solution, self funding toilets, let people open businesses that are toilets, can have showers as well if applicable.

This ^ is the crux of it.

What must people from other countries European countries think!

eh?
When I am in a park in another country, I don't particularly expect there to be toilets either. Not sure why other Europeans would expect things to be different here.

I don't know, that's never crossed my mind 🤷‍♂️

But I know what the locals think...that it's shocking, and yet despite the petitions, nothing ever gets done.

Also it's not unusual to see people disappearing into bushes, where I can only assume they've gone for a wee.

I go to a lot of quieter areas. The problem with finding toilets closed is that people will just choose to go around them. Over time, this can leave a big mess.

@Arlanymor then if it's just a 'resource' issue then council officers must cut the cloth to suit, downsizing ALL resources including themselves and what they get out of apportioning the 'resources' - so maybe a downsize of extra-statutory minimums of leave, holiday, sickness, maternity pay and lets slash the personnel training budgets, twin-town jollies and pension contributions as a few suggestions to start with.

I'm sure that would keep a couple of public toilets open and possibly put in some disabled access ramps in place and maybe even run a much needed youth club once a week.

Another issue is that different councils are responsible for different things. For example, my county council will cut the opening times at tips, because it's the district councils that have to deal with fly-tipping.

We need unitary authorities with one set of admin staff, and with joined up policies. They would also have more bargaining power when procuring services (some already work together I know).