Anti-sex toilet plans ‘mistake’
PLANS for new public toilets which involved a range of hi-tech security features including weight-sensitive floors, high-pitched alarms and water jets were submitted in error, a town council has said.
The Griffin Park toilets in Porthcawl are being replaced with a £170,000 new building with work due to start in October.
PLANS for new public toilets which involved a range of hi-tech security features including weightsensitive floors, highpitched alarms and water jets were submitted in error, a town council has said.
The Griffin Park toilets in Porthcawl are being replaced with a £170,000 new building, with work due to start in October.
According to the original planning documents, the toilets boasted features intended to “safeguard against vandalism and inappropriate sexual activity”, with any violent movement automatically opening doors and setting off high-pitched alarms, and with a fine water jet soaking the individual cubicles.
Meanwhile, weight-sensitive floors would ensure there was only one user at a time and a restricted time entry would help deter rough sleeping with an audible warning, combined with the lights and heating being switched off.
The plans caused concern on social media, with people asking what the weight limit would be and whether parents taking their children into the loo, carers or obese people would trigger the doors to open.
On Facebook, one person said they would be too scared to use them, while another person asked whether someone would be soaked if they suddenly had a seizure in the toilet.
However, in a statement released yesterday, the town council said the plans were to be amended, with many features no longer included in the construction.
A statement from the council said it “never had any intentions of installing any floor or other movement sensors, any restricted time entry, there will not be water sprays or self-opening doors, no weight-sensitive floor and no dousing equipment described in the [designs and access] statement”.
The statement reads: “In April 2019 Porthcawl Town Council agreed to proceed with a new-build toilet facility at Griffin Park. The town council has continued to progress this intention with vigour to ensure that the new building facilities will be completed in spring 2020.
“As part of this, a planning application was recently submitted.
“We are aware that a number of security features have been listed in the design and access statement as part of the planning application. Unfortunately, the town council’s enthusiasm and intentions have been misinterpreted.
“The town council are committed to providing new toilets that will be good-quality and of traditional construction.
“The various features listed in the design statement will not be included in the construction.
“The town council wish to provide a traditional facility, which is clean, accessible, regularly maintained and that complies with planning and public health requirements.
“It will be a facility that the town will be proud of.
“There will be clearly marked separate toilets for male and female and a unisex disabled toilet. The facility will be supported by an ongoing cleaning contract.
“The town council accepts that there has been an error made in the design and access statement.
“The town council has never had any intention of installing any floor or other movement sensors, any restricted time entry, there will not be water sprays, or self-opening doors, no weight-sensitive floor and no dousing equipment as described in the statement.
“Appropriate amendments will be made to the design and access statement as necessary.”
The planning application for the new toilets is currently lodged with Bridgend County Borough Council.
They are due to open in spring next year.