Students campaign for park toilets
The location of a humble toilet block in a Feilding park might seem like a minor issue but it’s a basic human right that needs to be catered for, pupils say.
Manchester St School’s Green Team, consisting of nine pupils, have taken their views to the Manawatu District Council in a bid to get a public toilet installed at Kitchener Park.
They have the backing of the community, with the council receiving seven submissions to build a toilet at the park, and no-one against the proposed concept.
The students visit the park regularly to help curator Gavin Scott grow seedlings, plant trees and learn about eco systems.
Georgia Palmer, 8, said other groups that regularly visited the park would also benefit.
‘‘We would like to do more planting at the park next term when it is the right time to plant trees,’’ she said.
‘‘We can never stay long because we need toilets and there is nothing at the park for us and all our parent helpers to use.
‘‘We love Kitchener Park. Lots of us visit with our families and we always look for places we have planted trees.’’
Something as simple as a unisex portaloo would suffice, Georgia said.
Manawatu mayor Helen Worboys applauded the pupils’ passion for the park and said the council would discuss the topic.
Chairman of the park Geoff Lovegrove said the proposed toilet would service an increasing number of people visiting the park.
Its recently installed boardwalk, endorsed by the Prime Minister on May 12, had resulted in a renewed interest from the community.
Lovegrove has urged that funding, originally scheduled for 2018/2019, to be brought forward.
‘‘It is an embarrassment that
‘‘It is an embarrassment there are no toilet facilities.’’ Geoff Lovegrove
there are still no toilet facilities available.
‘‘Several of our regular visitors and support groups must currently restrict their visit to one hour as there are no toilet facilities provided for them.’’
Feilding resident Jo Udy said the nearest toilets were at Kowhai Park, a fair walk with children by your side.
‘‘In order to protect the nature of the park, and in the interest of visitor comfort, toilets would be a great step forward.’’
Ruth and Brian Evans applauded the park for its new boardwalks. The couple are regular walkers along the Makino walkway and often venture onto Kitchener Park.
They ran into a lady in the forest on a walker, due to a hip replacement, who said the boardwalks were ideal for those with limited mobility.
‘‘The elderly and children really need a toilet facility. If we are serious about attracting visitors to our little bit of original forest we need to make it visitor friendly.’’