Shameful approach over handwashing

I CONTACTED Townsville City Council with regard to “COVID-19 procedures: Wash your hands with soap!”, asking them to “please explain why there is no soap available at the public toilets at Jezzine Barracks”.

I would have thought this was a mandatory requirement in public toilets anywhere in Australia, however there is no provision for soap in any of the public toilets at Jezzine (and possibly at other public toilets in Townsville).

In the COVID-19 pandemic era this is totally irresponsible and unacceptable.

Their response: “To enable the safety and wellbeing of our residents, council has had to remove the soap and paper towel dispensers from our public toilets as they kept being vandalised and people were using them inappropriately, which left huge messes in the bathrooms. Soap was also being put all over the floor, which was causing a slipping hazard, particularly in The Strand toilets.”

I am not sure which is more alarming:

1. That the council considers us all grubs.

2. That the council thinks it is OK not to have soap available in public toilets.

3. That the council is too mean (budget conscious) to supply soap and the staff to replenish and clean the public toilets as required.

4. That the council can spend so much advising everyone to wash their hands (there are signs around town) but not the money to supply the materials to do so.

Shame on you, Townsville City Council.

SUZANNE CARROLL,

Belgian Gardens.