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The urinal, below ground during the day, emerges in the evening |
Now you see it, now you don’t... loo solves a pressing problem
Pop-up toilet hidden beneath streets during daytime brings relief to queuing clubbers
A SOLUTION to the late-night problem of clubbers who are caught short is lurking under the pavements of Farringdon.
A pop-up urinal – hidden under a manhole-style cover when not in use – has been installed yards from Fabric nightclub.
Its arrival follows six years of campaigning by club managers and complaints from residents about urine-covered streets.
The self-cleaning, fully plumbed Dutch Urilift urinal is operated by remote control by Fabric’s management. It will remain underground at the corner of St John Street and Cowcross Street during the day but emerge in the evening for use between 7.30pm and 5am on club nights and at weekends.
The extent of the problem was revealed in a recent pilot scheme involving Fabric and Islington Council which provided portable urinals in and around Farringdon. At weekends, more than 10 gallons of urine were collected.
Dan Coshan, Fabric’s group operations director, said: “We’ve been in the area for 10 years. We fully understand that, with a venue this size, we have a lot of positive contributions to the area but with the numbers we and other bars attract we know there can be some negative impact.
“We’re known for our queues. If people are queuing for a long time and they need to go, they’ll have to go and, unfortunately, if there’s nowhere to go they will pick a doorway.”
He added: “We’ve been campaigning for the last six or seven years for public toilets. Last year, we funded a temporary urinal scheme.”
The new toilet can be used by three men at a time.
Mr Coshan said: “It’s very simple. Men walk in, go and leave. It’s tasteful, quite stylish and modern.”
He added that the club and the council were considering installing a cubicle-style toilet for women.
St George’s ward Lib Dem councillor George Allan said: “This is a response to years of complaints by local people about the sight, and consequences, of clubbers and drinkers urinating in the streets and various alleys off them, and recent efforts to get licensed premises to take more responsibility for their customers.”
He added: “It’s quite normal to see drinkers outside pubs relieving themselves in the street, rather than using the facilities inside. The urinal will rise out of the pavement, and then disappear back after its work is done.”
l A public toilet has been installed at Highbury Fields.
The automatic loo in Highbury Crescent, by Highbury Pool, is the second public toilet in the park.
The council has also promised to provide a public toilet in Archway.
Highbury East Lib Dem councillor Laura Willoughby said: “There’s nothing worse than being caught short when you’re out.
“So I hope these new toilets will make life more convenient for people using Highbury Fields.” |
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