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High street toilet scheme moves a step closer
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| The existing toilet near Elstree & Borehamwood station |
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The possibility of shoppers being allowed to use private toilets in high street stores moved a step closer this week.
Under proposals discussed by councillors, shopkeepers in Shenley Road would volunteer to open their toilets to members of the public, regardless of whether they are customers, in return for an annual fee from Hertsmere Borough Council.
But Borehamwood Cowley Hill ward councillors Ann Harrison and Di Hoeksma, who first proposed the idea in January last year, are angry at the length of time it has taken for the authority to set up the scheme.
There are currently two public toilets, known as automatic public conveniences' (APCs), in Shenley Road, which allow shoppers to spend 10p to relieve themselves.
But the APCs are inconvenient for the elderly and those with small children and are also expensive to maintain.
In a report put before the council's executive on Wednesday last week, Andrew Weaver, the authority's head of environmental health, said: "It may be prudent to close one of the APCs and this would provide a saving of approximately £12,000 per year, which should be enough to fund the scheme once it is up and running.
"If the executive agrees we could launch the Borehamwood pilot within a few weeks of the decision."
Mr Weaver said the scheme would cost around £40,000 to set up.
Councillor Jean Heywood, environment portfolio holder, said: "I want to assure councillors we have not forgotten about this.
"It has been a proven fact that this does boost the local economy as people going into shop toilets probably go through the shop and use the shop more than they would do if they weren't in there."
But following the meeting Ms Harrison said: "I know officers have been putting the financial details of the scheme together, but Di Hoeksma and myself are getting really annoyed at the length of time it is taking, I don't understand why they just can't get on with it.
"Compared with the current public toilets we have this is a relatively cheap scheme and it has been proven to work elsewhere.
"There is a great lack of toilet facilities in Borehamwood's shopping centre.
"If this works it could be possible to implement it in other parts of the town such as the Manor Way and Leeming Road shopping areas."
The draft report will go before a scrutiny committee on April 2 and back to the executive for approval in May.
Toilets could then be opened to the public by the beginning of June.
Have you been caught short in Shenley Road? Do you think the council's scheme will be a flash in the pan? Email us or leave your comments below.8:51am Tuesday 18th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jack, Borehamwood on 4:36pm Tue 18 Mar 08
I thought Leeming Road was a toilet.
I thought Leeming Road was a toilet.
Posted by: rob, bwood on 11:01am Wed 19 Mar 08
jack you have very strong views.Some of the agree with.But what is the point in that message. I thought you had more brains than to leave a comment like that . any way back to the point we need more toilet access in the town so i agree with it as long as it dont [bold]rise my council taxes[/bold]
jack you have very strong views.Some of the agree with.But what is the point in that message. I thought you had more brains than to leave a comment like that . any way back to the point we need more toilet access in the town so i agree with it as long as it dont
rise my council taxes Posted by: RE write, bwood on 11:04am Wed 19 Mar 08
jack you have very strong views.Some of them agree with.But what is the point in that message. I thought you had more brains than that to leave a comment like that . any way back to the point we need more toilet access in the town so i agree with it as long as it dont rise my council taxes ( i really should read what i type first )
jack you have very strong views.Some of them agree with.But what is the point in that message. I thought you had more brains than that to leave a comment like that . any way back to the point we need more toilet access in the town so i agree with it as long as it dont rise my council taxes ( i really should read what i type first )
Posted by: Amanda, Borehamwood on 6:21pm Thu 20 Mar 08
It is no wonder people treat the Leeming road area and the residents with such little respect when you have such stupid comments from the older generations.
There is a complete lack of toliet facilities within the high street and something needs to be done about this. I am not sure why the council has to pay shop keepers to allow the public to use the toliets. Most of the time I will shop in shopping centre in other towns that have toliets for there consumers, how else do they expect to pay there business rents and rates without customers. Most of the cafes that do have toliet in only allow customers to use them and they even refuse children and pregnant ladies which I have been informed is against some comsumer act of some sort.
It is no wonder people treat the Leeming road area and the residents with such little respect when you have such stupid comments from the older generations.
There is a complete lack of toliet facilities within the high street and something needs to be done about this. I am not sure why the council has to pay shop keepers to allow the public to use the toliets. Most of the time I will shop in shopping centre in other towns that have toliets for there consumers, how else do they expect to pay there business rents and rates without customers. Most of the cafes that do have toliet in only allow customers to use them and they even refuse children and pregnant ladies which I have been informed is against some comsumer act of some sort.
Posted by: mike, borehamwood on 12:43am Tue 25 Mar 08
right where do i start .firstly i cant blame the shops for not letting non customers use the toilets as they are only going to be abused by heroin addicts and drug dealers.secondly i hope the public toilets will have ultra violet lighting in them to stop drug addicts using.and finally in my experience of having had to use public toilets and the occasional shop loo (like burger king) they are generally always filthy because the public have no respect and just urinate and defecate on the floor or whatever .i can understand the need for a toilet for say small children whom are out of nappies or the disabled or handicapped or incontinent but evryone else should make sure that they go before they go out.
right where do i start .firstly i cant blame the shops for not letting non customers use the toilets as they are only going to be abused by heroin addicts and drug dealers.secondly i hope the public toilets will have ultra violet lighting in them to stop drug addicts using.and finally in my experience of having had to use public toilets and the occasional shop loo (like burger king) they are generally always filthy because the public have no respect and just urinate and defecate on the floor or whatever .i can understand the need for a toilet for say small children whom are out of nappies or the disabled or handicapped or incontinent but evryone else should make sure that they go before they go out.
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