To think not opening public toilets is a mistake?

[KitKat1985]

So several open spaces near us have started to re-open (think some National Trust sites and beauty posts). Obviously cafes and shops on site remain closed, which makes sense. But I do disagree with not opening the toilets on site. I get the point is to try and discourage people from staying too long but it also means:

1. There's nowhere for people to wash their hands, which surely should be a priority.
   
2. It's really discriminatory for people who really need to be able to access a toilet at short notice and can't necessarily 'hold it' for long, such as people with certain medical issues or people with very young children.
   
3. I've heard that some people who haven't been able to 'hold it' are going for 'a quick wee in the bushes' in some of these places which is pretty poor from a hygiene point of view, at a time when surely hygiene is most important?

[LastTrainEast]

KitKat1985 Yes of course you should be staying at home or near it. What part of "there's a virus" went over your head. Cleaners are not going to risk getting infected to clean a toilet in case your whim takes you somewhere near it. Your leisure/entertainment is simply not that important to anyone. We don't care if you are bored.

It's not forever anyway. Which I think you would know if you were a nurse.

[LastTrainEast]

Dadnotamum72 you get that if they open toilets they must maintain/clean then? Feel free to volunteer for that.

[DahliaDay]

maybe they should be left open with no cleaners working

everyone is responsible for cleaning the toilet they use......both before and after use

[lynsey91]

Just because Boris said you can go as far as you like doesn't mean you have to.

You know how long you can usually go before needing a wee so don't go further than you can manage.

I don't think toilets should be opened but then I rarely use a public toilet. I definitely would not be using one at the moment

[Chelsea567]

We all use the loos at work. (Supermarket) And wash our hands.
Public toilets should be open.
I live near a beach and our neighbours have actually had someone crapping in their garden.
And talking of PPE, at work people are leaving their gloves and masks in the trolley after their shopping or just dropping them in the car park. So we have to clear them up. Lovely.

[rawlikesushi]

Nobody is being discriminated against by keeping toilets closed. That's just hysterical and ridiculous. There's a global emergency playing out and, for now, public health has to take priority and we are all giving up freedoms and facing hardships.

Apart from the obvious dangers of infection - from people flushing without putting the lid down and touching surfaces - I expect they're closed because staff don't want to clean them. And who can blame them really? I wouldn't want to do it. Cleaning a public toilet in full PPE during a pandemic. No thank you.

I would rather our parks and open spaces were open without toilets than completely closed.

[Flaxmeadow]

Some in our bus and train stations are open but only one or two. They are cleaned regularly and the doors are kept open when no one is using them (fresh air)

[MNnicknameforCVthreads]

OP YABU

Stay local. There’s no need to go places where you would need to use a toilet.

[rawlikesushi]

"Well according to some posters on here DarkMint anyone disabled or pregnant or with young children or any other reason that they might not be able to 'hold it' should just lump it and stay indoors forever."

Or just exercise locally, like they were before we were allowed to travel to open spaces.

[MadameMarie]

Who wants to use a public toilet at the moment? It's why people should stay close to home if they have no control over their bowels.and bladder.

[FiddlefigOnTheRoof]

Yanbu.

It discriminated against disabled/women/pregnant.

[MadameMarie]

The virus discriminates against the elderly and vulnerable which is why they're shielding. They shouldn't be using public toilets for their own good anyway.

[WingingItSince1973]

@rawlikesushi you've posted just what I feel. All this 'I'm being discriminated against' nonsense! We are in a global pandemic people. Life will be different, life will be hard. If theres an issue with not being able to access toilets then dont go miles away from home. That's not discrimination it's common sense! I have a weak bladder and ibs. I miss the coast so much but it would be miserable going as I would be panicking about finding a toilet. I wouldnt be one of the disgusting ones that think defecating outside is ok because it's not their fault they cant access the loos! Either take a portable loo with you or just bide your time till the facilities are open! I'd rather the loos stay closed so some poor sod isnt having to risk their health cleaning up after people all day while there is a pandemic on!

[pigsDOfly]

It discriminated against disabled/women/pregnant.

I barely want to use public lavatories at the best of times. I just can't imagine many pregnant women or disabled people would actually be wanting to use one at the moment.

[friendlycat]

For goodness sake. It’s not hard. Just stay at home or very local then you don’t need the loo. There is a worldwide pandemic at the moment causing global problems. All these beautiful places will be here in the future when travel is more easy. Some people are just ridiculous.

[MadameMarie]

I'd rather piss in a bush than use a public toilet right now. That's why I haven't been out the house for more than an hour in 2 months which was the guidance anyway till a week ago.

Use some common sense

[Notcontent]

Well, it really is a public health issue though, isn’t?

There is a park very close to my house. For the past week it has been full of hundreds of people having picnics. I would say 70% of them are people in their 20s and 30s and all consuming large quantities of alcohol. End result is that the whole place is becoming a giant public toilet.

[ErrolTheDragon]

The 'big mistake' is people not being responsible enough to check before they set off to a place that they won't be caught short.

Aerosolised faeces are a known source of infection. Many public loos don't have lids, and even if they do people probably won't want to handle them.

So, if you want to travel beyond your bladder (let alone bowel) capacity, you need to figure out if there's a way to do it hygienically.

[Branster]

I loathe public toilets but even through my limited experience I bet you can’t wash hands properly in a public toilet. People would have to rely on hand sanitizer when leaving the house anyway so I don’t see why public toilets should be viewed as a hand washing facility.
And public toilets would be the last place most people would want to use during a pandemic.
It is very unfortunate and not that rare probably that due to medical conditions some people need to use the toilet facilities on a more regular basis. In this instance they are at a clear disadvantage when choosing where to go for an outdoor walk or activity. But this is a temporary situation and they are forced to put up with it and that’s the way it is. Same for young children, parents would simply have to choose a shorter walk for the time being. It is not forever. It really isn’t fair but not a lot is at the moment.

[cherryblossommorningstoday]

@DarkMintChocolate

When I was 8 months pregnant (twice) I had to commute 52 minutes on one train with no toilet. Once I couldn't do that any more I couldn't go to work. It's not a whole lot different and not a long term condition. If she can manage 30 mins then that's good enough for exercise anyway. I see no reason to put public toilet cleaners at risk.

[cherryblossommorningstoday]

Also, as others have said, if you open them then even more people will go to parks/beaches. It is a global pandemic. It is not necessary. If you can't cope without a nearby toilet then stay very local. It is not discriminatory.

If you have a radar key then yes, disabled toilets should be open. If you are just pregnant or have a small child, stay local to your home.

It is a temporary situation.

The government have said you can travel for exercise, not you MUST or have a god given right and sod every one else.

[JanewaysBun]

I understand however got caught "short" on a super market run recently. No loos available, body still recovering from childbirth, can't get online delivery so had to walk to the supermarket. It was not pleasant. It's shit but no one's fault.

[Flaxmeadow]

I'm baffled by this thread
There ARE public toilets open in town centres

[Bridecilla]

Covid19 doesn't give a flying fuck about discrimination. Nobody NEEDS to visit an AONB.

[CrowCat]

There are no public toilets open in my town centre which makes it ridiculously difficult when shopping with children (I'm a single parent with no option but to take my DC shopping with me). Also hand washing is important and more effective than hand sanitizer, so surely keeping public toilets closed is counterproductive??