Bromley to build more public toilets as one fifth of people don’t leave home over lack of amenities
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
A borough may soon get more public toilets, after a councillor said people in the capital are less likely to leave their home over fears of not being able to go to the toilet.
Councillor Will Connolly said at a Bromley council meeting on Monday evening: “One in five people do not go out as much as they would like to and suffer from loneliness because of concern over the lack of amenities and public toilets.”
The statistic comes after a report published by Age UK London last month said 81 per cent of Londoners are disappointed by the lack of public toilets in their borough.
The report also says 90 per cent of people consider whether a public toilet will be available when they leave home.
Councillor Aisha Cuthbert, portfolio holder for open spaces, was asked at the meeting about the number of public toilets in Bromley and the plans the council had for improvements.
Cllr Cuthbert said: “There are currently 30 public toilets across the borough, as part of our community toilet scheme, and these are located in parks.”
Included in the 30 facilities are Changing Places toilets, which are specialised facilities including hoists and extra space for carers.
Cllr Cuthbert said: “The council has benefitted from £220,000 in government funding last year to prepare four changing places toilets for people with disabilities at sites across the borough.”
Bromley was one of 10 London boroughs granted Government funding in the Changing Places fund, as part of a £23.5m fund to improve disability access across the UK.
According to Age UK London, only 33 per cent of public toilets in London are accessible.
Cllr Cuthbert also said that the Crystal Palace Park Trust plans to invest in updating their public park toilets, with the park being the site of one of the new Changing Places facilities.
The public toilets in the park have previously been criticised by people for their condition, with a petition last year aimed at properly maintaining the facilities gaining more than 5,000 signatures.
Pictured top: Bromley Civic Centre (Picture: Google Street View)
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