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Is council toilet plan loo-nacy?

6:45pm Tuesday 6th November 2007

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Croydon Council plans to pay businesses in the Crystal Palace Triangle £600-a-year to "rent" their toilets to the public.

The move would mean new WCs would not have to be installed in an area where people have struggled to spend a penny.

The idea is set to be piloted next year and is based on a model which is currently used in Richmond.

It will mean shoppers, football fans, children and families will be forced to go into cafés, pubs, shops and other premises when they are caught short.

Residents and businesses have been campaigning for a new public toilet in the area since one in the Phoenix Centre was closed. It was plagued by vandals, drug addicts and drunks.

When Jon Rouse was appointed chief executive of Croydon Council in July, he told the Croydon Guardian this would be one of his first priorities.

The town hall will pay businesses a sum of money to help with "maintenance and cleansing costs" in exchange for allowing people to use the facilities.

The businesses chosen for the scheme will be selected on a first come-first served basis.

Amber Rusk, district centre manager for Norbury and Upper Norwood, said: "This is a solution we are working on as an interim measure. Some businesses in the area are already letting people use their toilets and it is a good way for people to know that businesses with a sign in their door are available."

But Councillor Pat Ryan said it was "another example of a lack of understanding by the council."

He said: "I just don't really understand this logic at all. We have been campaigning to get toilets up here for the last two years and now people are going to have to trawl into pubs and restaurants to use toilets.

"Surely it is just going to attract all sorts of undesirables into the places up here and I feel it is totally irresponsible."

A council spokesman said: "It's a system that works in Richmond and one that's being considered in Croydon. But, at the moment, that's all it is - a proposal.

"Nothing has yet been agreed, including the sum mentioned."

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STEPHEN, Croydon says...
7:26pm Tue 6 Nov 07

This is a great idea, The council owned toilets are terrible: they are never clean and there are some dodgy people hanging around.

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Kes, Upper Norwood says...
9:45pm Tue 6 Nov 07

So Labour councillor Pat Ryan says "we have been campaigning for public toilets for 2 years". Excuse me Sir, but wasn't it your party, when running the council, which closed them all? Like Gordon Brown, he thinks we're all fools!

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Carol, Coulsdon says...
9:14am Wed 7 Nov 07

I think it's a fairly good idea. Usually if I need the loo and I can only find a coffee shop or similar, I will use their toilet and then buy something. I'd feel guilty otherwise. Is it true that the role of the 'pub' has always included providing facilities for the public - whether they are paying customers or not?

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Tigs, says...
10:27am Wed 7 Nov 07

Not only is is loo-nacy but it is loo-dicrous!! Isn't it a shame that undesirables spoil it for everyone else? Why people feel the need to vandalise the one thing that they need to use more than anything is beyond me!!


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David, Croydon says...
2:48pm Thu 8 Nov 07

Public toilets are a no-go zone for many people. The ones in shopping centres are sometimes ok, but council run toilets are a different matter.

If this has worked in Richmond and represents better value for money for the council (while also potentially increasing revenue for the businesses in the area - which can only be a good thing) why not give it a try.

The labour councillors seem to be happy to bleat on about all these expensive options that the current administration should be taking. I guess we see now why the costs under Labour kept on increasing substantially every year.

Personally I don't care who we have in charge, but the people in charge have to appreciate that the answer isn't to just take more money from us. Cost effective schemes, cost savings and responsible spending are vital - exactly what normal businesses have to do to survive year in and year out.

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crosslegged, upper norwood says...
6:47am Fri 9 Nov 07

The council should be responsible for lavatories not local traders - what is the position out of hours - where do people go? its all very well saying I can go in comfort in a cafe but hey supposing its closed, the owner decides not to let you enter or whatever. Public lavs have been a disgrace in the past - there needs proper investment from the Boroughs, cleaning and not this abdication of responsibility. Croydon ain't Richmond and I fear that some businesses outside the main centre will just take the money and not use it for the constant cleaning and hygiene required - and what about their insurers? will the premiums go up. Croydon take this matter responsibly let's have proper and adequate facilities and for once forget about the hanging baskets and other trimmings that so much is spent on. This may seem like a good scheme on first reading but it is full of implications for both council and traders. Its a cheap gimmick! We were promised 24 hour loos in Upper Norwood don't renege on that promise by this cheap stunt!

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richard, london says...
11:50am Mon 12 Nov 07

Hang on, the public toilets are owned by the public and supposed to be maintained by the council.
Have any council-tax paying residents been consulted in Croydon? The Council is about to pay a 3rd party to maintain public property- why don't they use the money to maintain it themselves?

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