Memorandum by the Merton Older People's
Housing Forum
I write in response to the invitation in the
Press Release of 20 March 2008. Members of the above Forum have
considered the issues that the Committee intends to address. Their
responses are summarised below.
1. THE NEED
FOR PUBLIC
TOILETS—PUBLIC
SPACES
(Wheelchair, mobility scooter accessibility
assumed under current legislation).
— Every town and shopping centre (Access
should be independent of purchase of goods/services.).
— Train stations, bus terminals and
other transport interchanges, and banks, building societies, post
offices, etc., ie wherever public have to queue or wait, sometimes
for long periods.
— provision on allotments, as more
women and families are now involved.
2. THE NEED
FOR PUBLIC
TOILETS—SOCIAL
2.1 Social Care
— to prevent self-imposed isolation,
for fear of embarrassment, by older people and those with bladder,
bowel and stomach problems. (See also 2 below.)
— for the benefit of families; outings
with the children invariably include a child's sudden demand for
use of a toilet.
2.2 Community harmony
— the ability to walk in an environment
free from human urine and faeces —particularly a problem
in town centres at the weekend after public houses and bars have
closed.
— to avoid the embarrassment of seeing
men and children particularly relieving themselves in public.
— to avoid the fear of a stranger knocking
at one's door, asking to use one's toilet, and not knowing whether
this is a real "emergency" or a distraction burglary
initiative.
2.3 There is a lack of general knowledge about
the RADAR key and "Just in Time" initiatives.
— There are real Public Health and
Health & Safety issues in the present lack of provision (ie
spread of diseases, pushchair and buggy inaccessibility, non-slip
surfaces—to prevent falls, especially by elderly or disabled—not
provided in shop, etc facilities.).
3. THE NEED
FOR PUBLIC
TOILETS—PARTICULAR
— Older People—losing voluntary
control of muscles. (See also below.).
— Those of any age with urinary problems,
bladder infections, incontinence and/or prostate problems, or
stomach upsets.
— Pregnant women—a growing foetus
presses on the bladder.
— Young children—small bladders,
still not in full voluntary control of muscles.
— Young people who have been drinking
heavily—this often results in vomiting, and alcohol is a
diuretic.
— Those working on allotments (See
para 1 above).
4. THE NEED
FOR PUBLIC
TOILETS—OPENING
HOURS
— 24 hours every day, where automated
or a pissoir (eg 4-compartmented "milk bottle container"
type, as currently in use in Amsterdam and Bristol)
— 8am to 8pm where manned or at transport
interchanges.
— Parks and commercial premises—during
opening hours.
5. WHY PROVISION
HAS DECLINED-THE
ROLE OF
ANTI-SOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR SUCH
AS VANDALISM
AND DRUG-TAKING,
THE IMAGE
OF PUBLIC
TOILETS (INCLUDING
CLEANLINESS), AND
THE COST
OF UPKEEP
— Provision has declined because of
the cost to (a) Local Authorities of maintenance and repair of
damage caused by a small minority of individuals, and (b) to the
Police to patrol for abuse of the premises. Those authorities
have reacted by walking away from the problem, citing the permissive,
rather than mandatory nature of the legislation. The Committee
is asked to point out that anti-social behaviour is to be tackled
head-on. Local Authorities are not to use this as an excuse to
slide out of their public health responsibilities.
— The poor image follows from lack
of maintenance, etc. Where toilet provision is maintained, it
has a good image.
— See para 5 below on cost of upkeep.
6. WHO PAYS:
SHOULD LOCAL
AUTHORITIES PROVIDE
FREE TOILETS;
SHOULD THE
PUBLIC PAY;
SHOULD LOCAL
BUSINESS CONTRIBUTE?
— Council provision should be mandatory,
but not necessarily free.
— The public could pay between 20p
and 50p per individual (but see below), given the relative cost
to average income of 1p for women's toilets in the past.
— There could be provision for purchase
of tokens for lesser cost to families and the disabled.
— Businesses should contribute in kind.
(See also 8 below.).
7. "SECURITY—SHOULD
TOILETS BE
STAFFED, UNSTAFFED,
AUTOMATED?"
— Yes to all suggestions—"horses
for courses", depending on the particular environment.
8. THE GENDER
BALANCE—ARE
MEN AND
WOMEN BEING
FAIRLY SERVED
BY CURRENT
PROVISION?
— No, but under-provision for women,and
men with problems detailed in 1st 2 bullet points of para 3 above
could be addressed by making all toilets unisex.
9. PROVISION
BEYOND THE
LOCAL AUTHORITY—INNOVATIVE
SCHEMES TO
ENCOURAGE SHOPS,
CAFES, PUBS
AND OTHER
BUSINESSES TO
PROVIDE TOILETS
TO MORE
THAN THEIR
PAYING CUSTOMERS?
— Continue/expand current initiatives
if the Local Authority can afford this.
— Alter planning regulations to allow
Local Authorities to mandate provision of public toilets in new
developments and at bus interchanges and train stations.
— Mandate a "Just in Time"-type
initiative, especially in banks, building societies, post offices,
etc where public have to queue, sometimes for long periods.
10. TOURISM—DOES
PUBLIC TOILET
PROVISION PLAY
A PART
IN THE
ATTRACTIVENESS OF
OUR TOWNS
AND CITIES?"
— YES, YES, YES! Westminster City Council
has some excellent examples of how this can be done.
|
