Fury as council blocks town toilet bid
CAMPAIGNERS have been defeated in their bid to fully reopen town centre toilets - despite more than 2,000 people and businesses demanding their return.
A petition backed by the Observer urging leaders to reinstate the Peel Street loos in Accrington forced a debate at Hyndburn full council’s meeting on Thursday, September 21. But, despite support from oppo- sition Conservatives, councillors voted it down, citing cost implications, antisocial behaviour fears and the availability of alternative facilities elsewhere in the town centre. However, they did agree to explore a ‘community toilet scheme’ involving town centre businesses.
Petition co-organiser Cheryl Duffy, who runs Acorns of Lancashire cleaners, had urged the council to reinstate the “much needed facilities”. Speaking at the council meeting, she said: “Over 1,200 signatures have already been handed in, and I have over another 800 here to present. Do what is ethically and morally correct and listen to the electorate. These petitions also have the backing of the Accrington Observer who are acting on behalf of their customers - maybe a lesson in there somewhere for the Hyndburn council.
“It is time to leave Victorian values in the past. Because of the closure we now have reports of people, including children, urinating in the streets and against council buildings, so you should provide your electorate with their basic needs.”
She said anti-social behaviour could not be the underlying issue for closure because the facilities are still open on Sunday and said the new £2 million Town Square would have a legal requirement for toilets. She added: “I was asked ‘What are they going to do, put unsightly portacabins on the new town square for events?’ This would create an eyesore and be a false economy. It is almost like buying a brand new Ferrari and taking it to a £5 car wash.”
Conservative Coun Judith Addison said the toilets are ‘very basic facilities’. She said: “Not everybody can walk a distance, go upstairs in the Market or the Arndale or to the bus station and pay 20 pence. I know we have to make savings and prioritise but personally I think the provision of public toilets in the town centre is utmost.”
Coun Tony Dobson, Conservative group leader, said the petition ‘makes a very sensible point about the future development of Accrington town centre’.
He told the meeting: “This has obviously caught the imagination of the Accrington Observer which I think is very much in touch with the people of Hyndburn and the thoughts, concerns and wishes.”
However, Labour councillor and paramedic Eamonn Higgins said the toilets had become a place for heroin addicts to ‘get their fix’ and to carry out ‘lewd sexual acts’.
He said: “They were a frequent place of attendance for the ambulance service. I personally wouldn’t like my children or grandchildren to go in there and have the risk of suffering a needle stick injury or bearing witness to lewd sexual acts.”
Coun Gareth Molineux, cabinet member for resources, said it would cost a minimum of £16,000 to reopen the Peel Street toilets and said that was not feasible when the council was facing a further £4.1 million in savings by 2021.
The Great Harwood councillor said: “We put in heavy investment into the Market Hall to try and encourage people to shop locally and buy produce and other goods from there.
“Next year we are looking at making additional savings of £1.7m. By 2021 this council won’t receive any government funding at all.
“The cost to reopen the toilets just in terms of staffing would be around £16,000. That’s not taking into account the hours that they work, pension and national insurance contributions that the council have to make. They have been closed a while so potentially there’s a capital investment needed there to bring them back up to a standard.
“I am sympathetic. In Great Harwood we have a town centre as well with local traders people and we only have facilities in the library and Mercer Hall.
“If we were going to open toilets in any area my personal opinion is that we should be putting them in an area that don’t currently have any within walking distance.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson said he was ‘incredulous’ at Conservative group statements and highlighted an Observer article six years ago when the toilets were first closed by the then ruling Tory group, in which Coun Dobson had defended the closure as “good efficiency” and said it would drive custom into the market hall.
Coun Parkinson said the opposition group had a ‘track record’ and ‘seem to like to talk down just for political gain’.
He told the Conservative group: “I take the two points the ladies are bringing seriously, but you’re just trying to win votes with no strategy and no plan and that’s wrong.”