City plans to shut 10 public loos
NEARLY a third of Derby's public toilets have been earmarked for closure by the city council.
Councillor Joe Naitta, the councillor responsible for leisure and culture in Derby, is proposing to shut 10 of the city's 31 public toilets because, he says, there is not enough money in the budget to make them "fit for purpose".
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DESPERATE MEASURES: Public toilets at The Spot are among 10 in the city which have been earmarked for closure.
And he said they had become outdated and in some cases, havens for drug users and criminals. Toilets on the hit list include those at the Eagle Market, Markeaton Park Island, the Assembly Rooms and The Spot.
But British Toilet Association director Mike Bone said: "Public toilets are an essential service. We think councils should spend money on improving toilets rather than shutting them to make quick savings."
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by Kalwinder Singh, Littleover, Derby
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 2:32PM
“The article states that the councillor is 'proposing' to shut 10 of the city's 31 public toilets. Therefore it must be concluded that it is only an idea or plan that may or may not get the go ahead. Based on the opinions of the people who have commented on this article. The vast majority seem to think it's a bad idea.
Maybe after reading these comments the councillor may have a change of mind or even scrap the idea.
I myself never use any public toilets in Derby apart from the ones opposite Woolworths and i've probably used them about 5 times in my whole life.
I'm guessing that most of the 31 public toilets are fit for purpose but obviously some may not. For that reason would it not be a good idea to put more money and effort towards the ones that are well looked after and serve the wider public.”
by lucy, Italy
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:19PM
“When I visit my hometown, I always use the Assembly Rooms toilets when I am catching the Transpeak (it's a long way to Bakewell or Manchester!) or buses to Belper and Nottingham. Why ever were the previous Market Place toilets closed? Sad to say but Derby really is going downhill. What are people supposed to do - go behind a bush?”
by david, derby
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:17PM
“spider - that is very true especially in France. Those people are not paid for by the council, they survive on tips given to them by the people using the facilities.
There is a big benefit to having those people there, however the consensus of the French public is that these people are illegal immigrant tax dodgers.
So I guess the solution is to either have an increase council tax rates or pay on the door to fund a council employee”
by need the loo, derby
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:14PM
“can we do what foreigners do and use human rights to stop this,its against our human rights to take away an essential convenience.the council is enticing us to commit a criminal offence (urinating in a public place) by taking toilets away.”
by Spider, derby
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:10PM
“Well that's your problem then. The City Council needs to be spending more money on policing it's toilets in order to make people feel secure about using them. When you visit public loos abroad you always see someone who is in charge of them in attendance to deter people like George Micheal.”