Submission by Over 50's Forum Wigan Branch

I would like to submit some comments from our group the Over 50's Forum Wigan Borough as you can see we all have differing points of view but we all agree there is a woeful lack of public toilets throughout the land. As older people we have been given the opportunity and freedom to travel on some public transport but one of our major concerns is the provision of clean toilets in these 'new unexplored regions' where we will spend our money!-Clean accessible toilets could be the selling point of certain areas!-are the councils aware of this?

 

· Willing to pay for staffed toilets this would cut out vandalism etc;

· Would pay if the toilets had new technology ie; seats disinfected after each use

· Do not agree to pay -this should be paid for through local or national government

· People on low income could not afford to pay this would be an extra expense curtailing their trips away from home

· Women in the past have always paid -with locks on the doors

· Car driver-"I need to know where the toilet is before parking the car"-toilet signs should be visible throughout the towns/areas

· Shops and businesses should be given incentives to provide for the general public qualified by older persons'/disabled /mothers with young children useage

· Mandatory- A certain number of accessible toilets in each town/area (country parks/rural areas etc;) as a percentage of the population

· Longer opening hours - particularly in summertime

· Our borough has undergone many commercial changes (new shopping arcade etc;) New pleasant toilets throughout the borough would bring in more visitors.

 

Our council website states that we have 3 manned toilets -does not mention any others . We are the second largest borough in the Greater Manchester area.

Ist May 2008