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Original poster

Public toilets

46 replies

Witchesbelazy · 03/04/2021 13:33

We are able to start getting out a bit more parks ant things in our city well supposedly. However most of the public toilets are closed so we are still stuck at home. Done all the very local walks a lot just fed up now. Just want my children to actually to start doing fun things again. Just needed to rant really.

OP posts:
Original poster
Witchesbelazy · 03/04/2021 13:34

Also sorry for how awfully this is written very little sleep.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 03/04/2021 13:45

I hear ya! We have a handful of the council operated ones open but there’s not many to start with and they don’t open until 11am which is quite late for a lot of walkers & runners. Also, places like castles / stately homes that the grounds are open don’t have their toilets open and it’s not as easy to just pop in places due to queues and pre booking now. It’s a nightmare for doing anything!

Jo99996 · 03/04/2021 14:07

The general lack of public toilets is a scandal in its own right, Covid or not

joystir59 · 03/04/2021 14:10

Close public toilets really annoy me. Just why?

HermioneWeasley · 03/04/2021 14:12

Agree, it’s petty and ridiculous

Topseyt · 03/04/2021 14:22

It is utterly ridiculous that so many public toilets seem to be closed. It is as though councils seem to think that Covid means people no longer need the toilet when out and about.

All supermarkets that I have been into over the last year have their toilets open, so why not all local council run ones? It is so restricting for those of us who cannot go all day without needing access to a toilet.

ChocOrange1 · 03/04/2021 14:57

Thats stupid. Public loos here are all open (hampshire) and have been throughout, even in the first lockdown

IcedPurple · 03/04/2021 14:59

I think this is yet another example of organisations cutting back on their services becoz Covid.

Holidayaddict · 03/04/2021 15:00

Was in Central London yesterday and was shocked to find most public toilets shut, especially with plenty of people out and about eating and drinking! Spoilt an otherwise enjoyable day out tbhAngry

Delatron · 03/04/2021 15:14

It’s also discriminatory towards people who have issues with their bladder etc.

tobee · 03/04/2021 15:24

I should imagine a lot of councils think keeping them shut is a financial saving. However, when people stop using other facilities because of no toilets being open they should change their minds

Steptoeshorse1965 · 03/04/2021 15:24

@IcedPurple

I think this is yet another example of organisations cutting back on their services becoz Covid.
It's been going on for years, I think also there is no actual, laid down requirement for the proviso of public toilets. I don't think they actually HAVE to be provided by councils. So many have been closed.
tobee · 03/04/2021 15:26

I think, compared to the 70s and 80s for example, that there have been loads more public loos. It's a backwards step to not get them up & running ASAP.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 03/04/2021 15:35

This was raised several months ago at one of the Downing Street press conferences and the minister largely dodged the answer. Those with conditions where a toilet is needed without warning were highlighted by the person asking the question.

It would not surprise me if saving money is not the only thing, but to stop drug use in toilets or cottaging.

tobee · 03/04/2021 15:44

Just open the bogs councils!

moochingtothepub · 03/04/2021 15:46

Ours are all open and have been since last May.

westendgirl · 03/04/2021 16:28

I have spent a lot of effort in what I thought was a fruitless email discussion with my local council about toilets.

Long ago they got rid of most of the council owned ones and had a scheme where cafes, pubs and restaurants allowed access to theirs and got a small sum from the council for this. Then they closed the cafes, pubs and restaurants. We ended up with two, one "out of order" most of the time and one with limited hours. Closed on Sundays, on of the busiest days.

Yet the area is an attractive one with a lot of open space and has been attracting a lot of visitors from a wide area all year, who have spent a lot of money in our shops and takeaways.

The council's response to my emails is that people should go home if they need the toilet and the police would be asked to deal with public urination. Seems they were happy to criminalise otherwise law-abiding citizens, particularly the elderly who need toilets most urgently, rather than provide the facilities that they need.

At last, they have provided some temporary toilets. They close at 8pm, so the problem continues for anyone enjoying light summer evenings, but at least it's something.

So now I would say, keep on and on and on at your council. It might work.

poppycat10 · 03/04/2021 16:39

@Jo99996

The general lack of public toilets is a scandal in its own right, Covid or not
Agreed. If men needed the loo as much as women did, we wouldn't have this ludicrous situation, although I am constantly amazed by how unsupportive women on here are to other women who need the loo more frequently, or have toddlers toilet-training, or have heavy periods etc.

Toilets are a medical need, not a luxury, and they should be a priority for councils to provide.

theotherfossilsister · 03/04/2021 17:12

Lack of toilets is horrible. I've had to take taxis home because the alternative is pissing myself, and I have a fairly standard bladder.

Barbie222 · 03/04/2021 17:32

Isn't it about encouraging people to stay local, ie not going out for the day?

JaceLancs · 03/04/2021 17:39

I have various health issues including an unstable bladder and IBS - this is worse than usual as my regular surgery to help this was cancelled in March 2020
My job involves being out and about and it’s an absolute nightmare
I know where every supermarket with an open toilet in the county is along with public toilets with radar keys which are still open and even then still get caught short and have to use a she wee in my car
I’m just as annoyed that all takeaways eg costa have closed their toilets along with places like M n S - so can’t visit food hall anymore

rozzyraspberry · 03/04/2021 18:09

I was shocked that a company like M&S supposedly known for customer service would close all their toilets. They have staff cleaning all the trolley and basket handles, but no provision for vulnerable people whose confidence going out will already have been hugely impacted.

tobee · 03/04/2021 18:27

@Barbie222

Isn't it about encouraging people to stay local, ie not going out for the day?

Maybe but it's not really practical. Plenty of times I've been local pre pandemic and need the loo and don't want to trek home.

Sleepyblueocean · 03/04/2021 18:49

"Isn't it about encouraging people to stay local, ie not going out for the day?"

It's not even going out for the day. Most people want to go at least a couple of hours after going out and incontinent ds can need his pad changing at any time.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 03/04/2021 19:12

All supermarkets that I have been into over the last year have their toilets open, so why not all local council run ones?

Because the mindset of private concerns is to find a way to do things, and the mindset of too many councils is to find a way to not to

Forget, too, and idea of "getting onto them" ... the best you'll most likely get is a "consultation", otherwise known as pretending to listen and then doing what they'd planned to anyway

As you'll probably gather, I write as one who's had far too many dealings with our own LA Hmm

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