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?

[MadameMarie]

@HeyBlaby

I'm saying i'd rather do that than use a public toilet at the moment, although it'd be a last resort. I'm staying close to home so i'm not in that position.

In a more quiet, secluded place then maybe. But the idea of opening up public toilets etc has been more of a talking point in terms of accommodating the army of travelers descending on beaches recently since travel restrictions were lifted. There was report on here of a 45 minute queue to use a disabled toilet near a beach. If you've got loads of people using them then it's not safe and risks exposing a lot more people to the virus who could have avoided it if they stayed close to home like the Scottish and Welsh governments have made sure people adhere to, as these resorts are not ready for the heaving masses.

[Delatron]

Well it’s put me off and I can’t be the only one.

I actually think they should open them though and make sure they clean constantly. Which I doubt will happen.

[rawlikesushi]

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

You really can't see that some places haven't got the resources at the moment to open their public toilets, or are concerned about contributing to a rising infection rate?

You really do think that they're not open because the decision-makers are being mean and blackmailing anyone who needs the loo more often than most?

[DarkMintChocolate]

*@cherryblossommorningstoday

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.

IMO, there is a big difference between giving up work when 8 months pregnant, but still able to go out to the shops/pubs/restaurants, etc and see family and friends whenever you felt like it; and being locked down for 12 weeks with a very active 2 year old! DDIL worked part time before the lock down, for the sake of her mental health. I looked after DGD for her. DGD can't see us her grandparents, or any of her aunts, uncles, cousins, etc and she can't understand why! The times I took DGD to the park, before the lockdown, she would not have been happy to walk 10 minutes there, stay there 10 minutes and then walk 10 minutes home again!

[WithIcePlease]

It's ridiculous them not being open
Currently in Cirencester
I could literally spend the whole day here tomorrow - wandering around, park, nice ice creams for sale, have a coffee, there's take aways available I could picnic in park
I reckon the three f us would spend £50+ at small local shops
And all toilets shut

[rawlikesushi]

That annoying pandemic, and all of those temporary public health measures, curtailing your lovely day out. No wonder you're cross.

[LolaSmiles]

It's ridiculous them not being open
Currently in Cirencester
I could literally spend the whole day here tomorrow - wandering around, park, nice ice creams for sale, have a coffee, there's take aways available I could picnic in park
I reckon the three f us would spend £50+ at small local shops
And all toilets shut

Except, unless I've missed the update, the change in restrictions was allowing travel for exercise, not family days out.

It makes perfect sense if someone wanted to go for a walk and a picnic in the park to be able to get a take out coffee or an ice cream. That doesn't mean places should be set up for day trips galore.

[Alsohuman]

You really do think that they're not open because the decision-makers are being mean and blackmailing anyone who needs the loo more often than most?

How else do you interpret a decision overtly designed to deter visitors?

[WithIcePlease]

I can choose where I wish to go for a walk with family
Picnics have been sanctioned
ce cream is not an essential food stuff nor take away pizza
Plenty of people here walking around parks, lakes etc and picnicking.
At least it's a start to getting some money into the economy
I've got no intention of spending a hot bank holiday cowering at home. I've been to work throughout

[Spamellahamella]

Keeping them closed will at least put off some people from travelling. I think we should all still be staying within a 10 minute drive of home. I know that's not the rule but haven't heard of anyone that wants visitors at the moment

[Sertchgi123]

Our dog ate some human faeces on the park today. The problem is human beings are utterly disgusting. No one should be going anywhere far, so they don't get caught short.

[Noti23]

Just stay at home.

[user1497207191]

You really do think that they're not open because the decision-makers are being mean and blackmailing anyone who needs the loo more often than most?

They're closed because the councils can't keep them clean/maintained in normal times so they'd get huge criticism if people went in and there was no loo roll, no soap, no water, no paper towels etc. I can just see the outrage on Facebook with people posting photos of dirty loos etc. Councils can barely clean them once a day, but at a time of a pandemic, they'd need to be cleaned far more often. Councils aren't interested in doing that, so they take the (as usual) easy option just to close them.

[Derbygerbil]

Our dog ate some human faeces on the park today. The problem is human beings are utterly disgusting. No one should be going anywhere far, so they don't get caught short.

Exactly, which is why public toilets would become a vector for disease transmission... I’m not sure why people can’t see this.

[Derbygerbil]

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?

I can’t get my head around why anyone would think pissing in some bushes is less hygienic than using a public toilet.... . If some people are this clueless about hygiene then it only confirms why it’s correct to ensure public toilets remain shut.

[NeedToKnow101]

I live very near a large and beautiful park in a residential area in a city. Have been walking in it most days and was looking forward to meeting a friend on occasion to have a drink over the next few days. Over the last few days all the bushes you would go in to see, are full of toilet paper and I've just realised it will only get worse this week. No rain forecast, extreme heat. I think I might wear a nappy.

[NeedToKnow101]

In to wee, not see! They can take the odd person wee-ing in normal times, but everyone doing it, while it's hot, is going to be gross and very unhygienic.

[psychomath]

I live close to an AONB. The council initially closed car parks and toilets to try and deter visitors. When it became clear that the visitors were coming anyway, they re-opened both as not providing those facilities was causing bigger problems for the local community (huge traffic jams, people urinating/defecating in public places). That seems like a sensible decision making process all round.

I understand why facilities were initially closed to discourage visitors, but if that doesn't work you need to re-evaluate the plan. Is it worth putting off some percentage of visitors - evidently a small one, judging by how many people were at beaches and beauty spots anyway - if the unintended consequence is that the ones who are going to be there either way are shitting on the beach instead of in a toilet?

[psychomath]

I can’t get my head around why anyone would think pissing in some bushes is less hygienic than using a public toilet....

It might be just as (or more) hygienic for the pisser, but not for everyone else who uses the park! Especially if lots of people are doing it, and if they're not just weeing. Why do you think we have public toilets in normal times, instead of letting everyone shit al fresco?

[AnotherEmma]

"Our dog ate some human faeces on the park today. The problem is human beings are utterly disgusting."

Sure, it's the humans who are disgusting, not the dog for eating shit

[HermioneWeasley]

It’s a dereliction of duty by councils not to open public toilets and have them cleaned and restocked as appropriate

[2468whodoyouappreciate]

I guess they are closed as a deterrent to stop people travelling too far from home?? Maybe.
Although you can now travel to exercise that does not mean you HAVE no option to travel far enough to need a loo. Perhaps choose nicer places a bit closer to home for now? Anywhere new will be a change from what you walking before you were allowed to drive. Perhaps just drive 10/15 minutes away and spend a bit less time.
The cleaning if public loos would be hard to keep on top if in the current climate I think.
I personally wouldn't be keen to shut myself in a loo cubicle seconds after a previous occupant. If queues were involved it would be 1 in and 1 out. Not all.cubicles have gaps at the top and bottom. Slim risk maybe, but not for me.

My bladder is pathetic. I can't go very long between wees and as for my IBS, well I won't be venturing far at all once we get out of our lockdown here in Wales. Pissed off about it hut it wont be for ever. Any change in scenery for my exercise will be welcomed greatly. The big trips out to all these beautiful places is rather walk if no restrictions on loos etc will have to wait for now. Something else to work towards and look forward to.

[LolaSmiles]

I've got no intention of spending a hot bank holiday cowering at home.
You do realise there's a difference between cowering at home and going wherever you like for a little day trip that requires enough amenities for the day?

If you want to go for a walk and socially distance then great. Even better if it's done with a tiny bit of consideration for the areas you choose to visit.

Given the fact some places near me have had issues with village access being blocked, drives blocked, groups having BBQs in parks/popular walk areas, it's safe to say that there's some knobheads out there who are full of the 'nobody can stop me' mentality. Unfortunately they're exactly the reason places don't want lots of visitors.

[WithIcePlease]

I only went 4 miles
There was plenty of parking and no problem socially distancing