Sandbanks in revolt ... over losing public loos!
Now tourists relieve themselves on millionaires’ mansion walls
LIVING in one of the world’s most expensive areas, the multi-millionaires of Sandbanks are used to a life of luxury.
But they’ve now been brought down to earth in a very crude way – by desperate day-trippers answering a call of nature against their homes.
Families queuing for ferries to travel across Poole Harbour from Sandbanks used to be able to use public toilets next to the slipway.
But town hall officials closed the block last month to save money – leaving tourists with a one-mile walk to the nearest public loo.
Since then, residents have accused visitors of turning Sandbanks into a ‘third world country’ by relieving themselves in front gardens, against the walls of the multi-million pound homes, and in alleyways.
Locals have been spotted disinfecting areas to get rid of the mess and the neighbourhood watch has urged residents to call the police if they catch anyone in the act.
Nicknamed Britain’s Palm Beach, Sandbanks, near Poole in Dorset is said to be the fourth most expensive place to live in the world, after London, Manhattan and Tokyo. One of the rich and famous lucky enough to live there is Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp,
His wife Sandra, 69, who lives with her husband in a £5million mansion on the peninsula, said yesterday the toilet problem was ‘really unpleasant’.
She added: ‘It seems that Poole Borough Council should reopen the public toilets because there is clearly a need for them.’ On Monday night, a record 80 residents turned up to a meeting of the Sandbanks Association of homeowners. Chairman Ken Sanson said: ‘People are making a mess here there and everywhere, which isn’t the kind of thing residents of Sandbanks expect to have to put up with.’ Resident Joan Kelhan, an 80year-old retired nurse, said: ‘Who wants to come to a place where there is urine everywhere? Are we in a third-world country? No, we are in Sandbanks.’ In peak summer months cars can queue for hours to reach the Sand- banks ferry, where boats depart for Brownsea Island and Studland, on the other side of Poole Harbour.
A Poole Borough Council spokesman said: ‘Many of Poole’s public toilet buildings are in a very poor condition, and are unsafe or unsuitable for use with little or no works having taken place for years.’