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Cllr Catherine West and George Durack at Metro Café |
Desperate for loo? Just nip in for a quick one
Pubs and cafés would offer relief to passers-by under community toilet idea
RELIEF could be in sight for those desperate to spend a penny in a borough with a shortage of public loos.
A new way of tackling Islington’s “appalling” lack of public toilets was outlined this week. Under the proposal, pubs, shops and small businesses would be paid up to £1,000 a year to open toilets to the public.
Labour opposition leader Councillor Catherine West wants the community toilets introduced in Archway for a trial period. A similar scheme is already operating in Waltham Forest.
Islington has a small number of one-person, coin-operated loos, near Camden Passage in Angel, for example.
But, because of a potential to break down, the loos are often unpopular, particularly with the elderly.
Cllr West said: “Community toilets would work perfectly in Archway shopping area, where everyone complains about the lack of anywhere to spend a penny.
“There’s an old Victorian public toilet on Archway traffic island but that has been bricked in and the council has no plans to re-open it. The cost of a new public toilet would probably be prohibitive and no one likes the individual coin-slot loos.
“The Waltham Forest scheme seems to be working well and has become very popular with the public since it was launched last year.
“And everybody is a winner – the taxpayers, the businesses and, of course, the users.”
George Durack, chairman of Islington Pensioners’ Forum, welcomed the idea.
He said: “As someone who is often in need of a loo when I’m shopping this has got to be a good idea.
“I find it astonishing that we live in a so-called caring society but there is no longer any provision for a basic thing like a public toilet.
“Pubs usually don’t mind you using their facilities but you are expected to ask, which not everyone likes doing.”
Jan Tucker, of Better Archway Forum pressure group, also supports community loos.
“We have a Saturday market and no public toilet,” she said. “It’s appalling.
“When you’ve got a child with you, you find signs saying these toilets are for customers only.”
Shopkeepers have welcomed the scheme, seeing it as likely to boost trade.
Mahmoud Ismail, who runs the popular Metro Cafe opposite Archway Tube station, said: “If there was financial help with cleaning then I suppose it might work. It might even be good for business.”
Islington’s Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton said the scheme was being studied.
“However, in practical terms, it might be difficult to get off the ground,” he added. “We have set aside £500,000 for refurbishing toilets and are also looking at this scheme.”
In Waltham Forest more than 40 businesses have signed up for the scheme.
“After a very successful pilot scheme in Leytonstone, the project is now being rolled out across the rest of the borough,” a council spokesman said. |
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