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?

[Alsohuman]

It isn’t. All the faux concern about the cleaners is purely and simply a cover for being pissed off that people are going out and having a good time because those precious rules now allow them to.

Filthy, filthy people defiling beaches and beauty spots and no we don’t want the obvious solution which is to open the toilets. Every bit of lockdown loosening will go this way with some people.

[Floatyboat]

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?

This is such woolly thinking. Socially distant outdoor wees are the safest kind. How on earth does that spread coronavirus. "Germs" aren't all the same.

[Bridecilla]

@toinfinityandlockdown

I'm not missing the point at all. People's right to use green space does not matter more than containing this virus.

Do you hear citizens of other countries moaning about not being able to use public toilets (putting staff at risk of aerosolisation) just us - already one of the worst hit.

I don't care that our useless leaders have said we can go further afield. We bloody shouldn't be.

[Alsohuman]

I rest my case. Coming out of lockdown will be fought all the way.

[Tiramisuiloveyou]

Totally agree with - @PicsInRed

‘Aerosolised faeces are thought to be a factor in spread re: inhalation.

Let that sink in for a minute’.

We live very close to a National Park less than 20-30 mins drive. Yet we are still continuing with the same boring three walks immediately outside of our front door without driving anywhere as its non essential, don’t want to get caught short anywhere and or wind up the locals and this is the only time we leave the house for exercise/dog walk other than a weekly shop. Some people are just so thoughtless and inconsiderate.


This

[IamEarthymama]

Sadly many of those of us with bladder issues have been facing this problem for the last year as many local Councils have been closing public toilets due the cuts to funding due to Austerity.

[ifonly4]

Potential virus over the door handles and taps, as soon as many have washed their hands they'll be touching them, not using a tissue or glove for the purpose.

Suits us to stay local for now. We can go for a good walk, cycle ride for over an hour. Don't plan to do it for a while, but a town visit will be very focussed, choosing 2/3 shops each time and thinking ahead what we'll need from them.

[LolaSmiles]

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

But you know what clearly some people absolutely have to behave like petulant children and stomp their feet saying 'but it's my right to drive where I like'. Yes you are free to drive somewhere to exercise, but that doesn't remove the responsibility to apply the smallest shred of common sense when deciding if and where to go.

I could drive to a remote car park,mountain bike for an hour and come home without seeing anyone and without needing the toilet. It doesn't mean I should drive to the beach for a family day out and complain there's no toilets.

This crisis has shown how many people are all up on claiming their (real or perceived) rights whilst being all too willing to ignore responsibility.

[aliceinsunderland44]

There are a few threads about this at the minute. As an IBS sufferer I certainly wouldn't be popping off to the seaside or beauty spots right now. It's bad enough for me at the best of times. I'm always on high alert wanting to know where the nearest loo is and while they're all shut I would much prefer to stay at home rather than get caught short.

However some people are incredibly selfish and irresponsible. They are flocking to these places, many of which don't want them there just yet, and doing what they like there. I've heard stories of people shitting in people's gardens or on the beach. There have been loads of photos of rubbish and nappies flying around on the beach. It's so disgusting.

I'm torn on the toilet front because while we shouldn't be encouraging people to go, it's clear they will anyway and the lack of public toilets is going to lead to another health risk if people are acting like this. Then again I wouldn't fancy cleaning a public loo at this time. It's just once again piss poor guidance and mixed messages from government.

Just to add people saying 'those who can't hold it in should stay home' - would you also say 'those who can't walk should stay home cos the car parks are shut'? Bowel and bladder issues are very real disabilities that can take over your life. Don't minimise them.

[toinfinityandlockdown]

"People's right to use green space does not matter more than containing this virus."

The virus is not a trump card that overrules all other human needs whether that be housing, exercise, mental health and wellbeing, normal healthcare or education. If those needs are impinged it must be to the least degree that we can and for the shortest period possible. People do die from depression. This is not some small consideration. We need to weigh up lockdown measures very carefully or more people could end up dying from other conditions whether that be suicide or lack of cancer treatment than die of the actual disease.

[KitKat1985]

It's all very well saying exercise locally. Obviously I'm not condoning people travelling miles and miles to exercise, but not everywhere has a convenient exercise spot just a couple of minutes walk from outside their front door. I live in a residential areas with a lot of people walking on the pavements and cars everywhere. It's a nightmare to socially distance, let alone having to watch the kids like a hawk so they don't run into the road etc. It would be far safer for us to go to a large park about 20 minutes drive from us so we can socially distance better and the kids can run about safely. But the practicalities of popping to the park for an hour, plus 40 mins driving (20 mins each way) without access to a toilet for the entire time for our disabled 5 year and toilet training 3 year old are a bloody nightmare.

And to the person upthread who said the virus won't be around forever. Don't be ridiculous. Covid19 is here to stay now. Even if they develop a vaccine, there will be people who won't get the vaccine (or can't get it), and no vaccine is 100% effective anyway. So just like with other diseases which you can vaccinate against (measles, meningitis B etc etc) there will still be cases, albeit at hopefully a much reduced rate. At some point you have to accept that there will always be some degree of risk.

Clearly no-one will be forced to use a public toilet. If you are someone on this thread who would rather not use a public toilet during this time because you don't trust other people etc then that's your choice, but you don't have to take that choice away from everyone else.

And cleaning pubic toilets has never been a pleasant job. Obviously anyone doing it should be allowed to socially distance during cleaning and have whatever protective equipment they need, but at some point you have to accept that basic sanitation facilities need to re-open, and I maintain I'd rather people urinated in a toilet with handwashing facilities than peed in a bush with no ability to wash their hands afterwards.

And no you don't get the right to tell disabled people etc that they should just accept that they can't access the same facilities other people do.

[bullyingadvice2017]

I have a bowel issue. Can and does strike whenever and wherever it fancy with very little warning before I NEED to be on a toilet. I have been caught short many times and always have emergency toilet roll, wipes and poo bags with me. Attractive eh.


So many people don't get this, just go before you go out, just hold it, No way could I poo in a public loo,

Oh how I wish i had the luxury of deciding that no way could I ever shit outside. It's that or running into my jeans!

[Chesneyhawkes1]

Services toilets are still open and being cleaned regularly thankfully.

Most days I stop to use one on my way home and it's been immaculate in there.

Notices up detailing what they've cleaned it with and when. Every other cubicle closed etc.

I'm so glad else I'd be looking for a handy bush too 😳

[bullyingadvice2017]

Lots of petrol stations and supermarkets have had toilets open I have found. Thank goodness.
May be it depends if the person deciding if to shut or open has felt the awful anxiety and excruciating pain of a bowel complaint. It's awful,

[HeyBlaby]

@MadameMarie there are plenty of disabilities/conditions which do not make the person more vulnerable to the virus, countless infact. And just because one person would not want to visit does not mean others do not.

Some people are without any outside space at all, some people are living in awful housing, some people are also caring for those with disabilities/challenging behaviour in these conditions. To visit an outside space is important for them, it is also safer than staying close to home if in a built up area. More importantly it doesn't even necessarily mean they're always driving for miles and miles, it could be fairly local.

I also am not visiting anywhere at the moment (I have literally been to work and the petrol station for weeks now) but I think it is important to recognise that we all are in different situations, living very different lives.

It's this 'I'm alright Jack' attitude which seems to have been brought out of people during this pandemic. I really dislike it.

Why should we exclude, potentially the most vulnerable (this doesn't always mean most vulnerable to Covid)/already marginalised even further from society?

[FindMy]

I work in a micro lab.
We aren’t testing urine samples in the usual way as coronavirus is a risk.
It can be present in your urine.

So people need to stop pissing everywhere.

[AnotherEmma]

I agree with OP, MrsAvocet, AlsoHuman, toinfinityandlockdown and HeyBlaby. It's a relief to read some voices of reason on this thread.

[twinnywinny14]

Tbh if I wanted to go out more I certainly would not be using public toilets

[rawlikesushi]

"The virus is not a trump card that overrules all other human needs."

It is for now, for a little while, until the outbreak is sufficiently squashed and can be kept suppressed by tracking and tracing.

It has to be because all of the things you're worried about, all of the things you list in your post, will be significantly worse if we have a second spike.

I will take some curtailment of my freedoms, short term, if it helps to achieve that but I realise that some people are getting impatient.

[MadameMarie]

@HeyBlaby

I get your point but plenty of people are housebound at the moment shielding because of underlying conditions or vulnerabilities. Most of us will have family members in that boat. It's not fair but its reality.

As I say I haven't been more than 2 or 3 miles from my house in 9 or 10 weeks and toilets are a big reason why, so i'm not 'alright Jack' either. I really struggle at the weekend because i'm used to being out the house on a Saturday enjoying the weekend.

I understand people do need to get out the house/get away but personally I would not be using a public toilet at the moment unless it was a real emergency (and i'd pee in a bush before using a public toilet). If that means staying within quick reach of my house then so be it. The idea of standing in a long queue by the beach waiting to use a public toilet in the middle of a pandemic is bonkers to me.

[HeyBlaby]

@MadameMarie unsure why using a public toilet has to be in a long queue at a beach? There are plenty of beautiful places to visit near me that are generally quiet, not full of crowds and yet have public toilet facilities.

I'm happy for you that you can pee in a bush. Some cannot.

[Delatron]

I think the lack of public toilets being open will put people off from travelling and that’s the point. There’s no way I could travel any distance and have a few hours somewhere without needing the loo. So I’m staying local at the moment.

I would pee in a bush if it was out of the way somewhere.

[maddy68]

Get yourself some travel John's. They are game changing. It's like weeing into a nappy. It goes solid and you can put in the bin
www.purpleturtle.co.uk/travel-john-3-pack-for-men-women-children-259.html

[Alsohuman]

I think the lack of public toilets being open will put people off from travelling

But it hasn’t. That’s the whole point. And it won’t. Why should people be blackmailed into not doing something completely legitimate?

[SpeedofaSloth]

YANBU OP.