If as some claim, a nation can truly be judged by its public toilets, then where does that leave the UK?Critics say they are neglected, dirty, unsafe and dwindling in numbers, which makes them a subject as whinge-worthy as the weather. For them, this is where community life and a civilised society meets anti-social behaviour and embarrassment.
But the tide could be turning. The World Toilet Summit in Belfast this week hopes to press governments from around the globe into action, and British campaigners hope the momentum will continue when they meet ministers in October.
It appears there is much to do. Two thirds of 2,000 adults recently polled by the National Consumer Council said they were disgusted by the state of public toilets.
"It's affecting people's quality of life everywhere," says Richard Chisnall, director of the British Toilet Association (BTA), who is attending the summit. "People are very angry out there. We're supposed to be a developed country, yet many High Street stores have to wash down their doorways to remove the urine."
Local councils have a discretionary responsibility for providing public toilets but many have closed them down, blaming costs, vandalism and cottaging by gay men. Councils are not allowed to charge for providing urinals so some toilets have been leased to private firms who can demand a fee.A survey by the BTA suggests 20% of the UK's toilets have closed in the past five years.
from BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment