Hamilton’s foul first impression

Bryce Hodgson’s welcome home to Hamilton was a filthy bus station toilet.

He was disgusted by what he found at the Transport Centre on Tuesday afternoon after 29 hours spent travelling from California.

Hamilton City Council says a small group of people are making it hard to keep the toilets nice.

Hodgson had taken the bus from Auckland to avoid driving after a long flight. ‘‘The one I used was an all-purpose – male, female, or disabled – one,’’ he said.

‘‘There was so much grit [on the hand rail], obviously from weeks of not being cleaned.’’ The drain in the floor also caught his eye, because the grill was gone, leaving an open hole.

The same issues could be seen the following day – along with a missing tap head, a piece of ceiling panel on the floor, and a rusting hand dryer.

If airport toilets were like that, there would be outrage, said Hodgson, who grew up in Hamilton and has lived in California for 30 years.

No one at Hamilton City Council was available for an interview, but a statement from facilities manager Emily Botje said the tap and drain cover were stolen.

‘‘We have ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour from a few people,’’ her statement said.

‘‘The transport centre is a gateway for visitors to the city and it’s really frustrating that the actions of a few are creating a bad impression for the majority.’’ That first impression of Hamilton was a concern for Hodgson.

If a restaurant or hotel had toilets like that, he said, ‘‘it would be all over Trip Advisor and nobody would go near the place’’.

City council had budgeted $60,000 for toilet upgrades at the Transport Centre and work started on Thursday, Botje said.

She said the facilities were cleaned three times a day – or even more often if council was told about problems.

‘‘We have increased patrols by our City Safe staff and urge people in the area to let us know about any issues or if they see people causing damage,’’ she said.

The current toilet upgrade focuses on flooring and cisterns and should be finished early next week.

Until then, there will be portable toilets in place and an alternative toilet for people with disabilities on the Bryce St side of the centre.

Hodgson told an attendant at the centre about the toilets, but was told he would need to contact Hamilton City Council, he said.

PHOTOS: TOM LEE/STUFF Bryce Hodgson arrived at the Hamilton Transport Centre by bus after 29 hours of travelling.

The grill, left, was also missing from a drain in the toilet area. Hamilton City Council says this was stolen. This Hamilton Transport Centre toilet, right, with its gritcovered handrail and open drain disgusted visitor Bryce Hodgson.