War on wee Post-festival talks to assess campaign’s success
A“WAR on wee” was declared ahead of the Cheltenham Festival to stop racegoers from urinating in the streets.
And now, as the dust settles, it is time for the authorities to assess how well the campaign went.
Part of the battle against public urinators saw buildings often targeted by men coated in an “anti-pee” paint. This is a hydrophobic coating that causes the urine to splash back instantly and leave irresponsible punters with soggy trousers.
Cheltenham Borough Council made the liquid-repellent paint accessible to local businesses and residents again for 2024.
It was hoped people would use the extra toilets provided instead. But how successful was it again this year?
Despite all the new measures put in place, it would be foolish to think that everybody can be stopped.
Lauren Wilkinson, a student at Birmingham City University, said: “I come to Cheltenham to work at the races and I saw a man shamelessly urinating on someone’s bins in their driveway on my way home.”
A University of Gloucestershire student who wished to remain anonymous said: “I don’t feel safe going out on race week, I’ve seen too many rowdy, drunk men peeing on the streets and shouting at people, especially at women.”
Speaking to key members of the community in nearby Prestbury, it appears that complaints were actually fewer in number. Hamish Breach, chair of Prestbury Parish Council planning committee, speaking in a personal capacity as a Prestbury resident, said: “We didn’t have any complaints this year, surprisingly little comment on social media in comparison to this year. Overall I think the racecourse have responded very well indeed to feedback from local residents in previous years and installed a lot more Portaloos along the roads away from the track.”
A post-race wash-up meeting has been confirmed by Cheltenham Borough Council again this year where data along with comments from the police will be shared. A date has yet to be confirmed but Cllr Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for economic development, culture, tourism and wellbeing, says that every year during race week “as councillors we receive a large number of complaints about public urination, and that ranges from people urinating in broad daylight in the town centre, to walking onto people’s driveways and gardens to find a quiet spot for a wee. It is totally unacceptable.”
Mr Wilkinson adds: “Last year there was a 50% drop in the number of complaints made to Cheltenham Borough Council about public urination during race week, and we’re hopeful that this year the message will have got through.
“I was particularly pleased to see that the police have reacted positively this year and there were police officers taking part in the war on wee, by standing outside the drives of people who have suffered in the past with racegoers weeing on their property. That is exactly the sort of action we wanted to see when we initially launched the war on wee last year.”