British Toilet Association: Archived News from the British Toilet Association 

Toilet closures leading to social isolation

More and more public toilets are being closed down - preventing many people from leaving their home. Tony Watts reports on an initative to try and save our loos - one which needs YOUR help to succeed.

For most of us, finding a loo when you are out can be – excusing the obvious pun – a mild inconvenience. But for the millions of people who have continence issues, the steady decline in provision of public toilets in recent years has been little sort of catastrophic, preventing them from leaving their homes, or forcing them to plan trips with military precision.

But the fightback is on. The British Toilet Association – set up to focus attention on issues relating to the provision of public or 'away from home' toilets – has launched a campaign called 'Where Can I Go?'. It's aim is simple: to demand that local authorities do their bit in providing adequate facilities in every area of the country.

One of their supporters is Gillian Kemp, who has asked for our readers' help – in putting pressure on their local authorities. "For many of us of mature years, bladder – and bowel - frequency is something which we have to put up with," she explains.

"Medication can affect the number of times you need to go to the loo as can many medical conditions. If you are female, then you may have additional issues to deal with. 'Holding on' can ultimately mean more health problems for the overstretched NHS.

"Few realise that while the Public Health Act 1936 gives local authorities the power to provide public toilets, it imposes no duty for them to do so. Because they represent an 'inconvenient cost', not least because they can be subject to vandalism, they are often closed and never re-opened."

Last October, the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee published a report entitled 'The Provision of Public Toilets', with written and oral evidence from many organisations who are campaigning for better public toilet facilities. "Unfortunately," says Gillian, "the outcome was disappointing. Local authorities will not have to provide a public toilet strategy although the Committee hopes that involving the local community in discussions about public toilet facilities and the advantages of having public toilets will be viewed positively by local authorities."

The message is, that if communities shout loudly enough, they may well persuade their council to put public toilets back on the agenda.

"Really, it's now down to the pubic to do something about this dire situation," says Gillian. "Most members of the public will not realise just how serious the problem is for older people and those who have bladder problems. If there are too few loos in your area, or the ones that are open are dirty or badly maintained, and that is genuinely restricting people from going out, run a local campaign.

"Get some people behind you, raise awareness, write to the local press and engage local councillors – or even your MP - in the debate. You'll be surprised how many other people will readily support you, including parents of young children who can also have major problems.

Point out that a lack of loos can reduce tourism or people using local shops. Involve local health visitors and doctors, who will have a medical view on the matter, and you might well find support from those who work unsocial hours – such as taxi drivers, even the police – where do they go?"

You can also pledge your support by going to the website below or write to Gillian for more information on who is campaigning in your area – or to ask how to start up a local campaign yourself. Her address is gillian.kemp@ntlworld.com

Mature Times asked Dame Joan Bakewell (pictured above) for her take on the issue. "Before I became the government's Voice of Older People, I was unaware of the need for public loos and the real crisis that exists when local councils close them down.

"I have had letters about this matter and raised it in my recent annual report to the government. I hope the new Equality Bill, which imposes a duty on all public bodies to consider the old in their planning, will really make a difference."

But rather than wait for that to happen, why not get the issue raised in YOUR community – if enough people make enough noise about this very serious issue, then perhaps the penny will drop.

Reproduced from an article written by Tony Watts - Editor of Mature Times
9 December 2009