EXTRA CCTV TO DETER LOOS VANDAL ATTACKS
Bus station toilets in town have been repeatedly targeted
AN extra CCTV camera is to be installed at a bus station repeatedly targeted by vandals.
It comes after the toilets at Leek Bus Station were shut due to ongoing anti-social behaviour.
Community leaders say the public loos have been damaged, items from them stolen, and even food smeared over the walls and floors with the repair costs running into ‘thousands of pounds’.
The building had undergone a £100,000 refurbishment in spring 2020 which included steel reinforcements to the doors and high-spec fittings – but the council had to shell out an extra £20,000 following an arson attack.
At last week’s meeting of SMDC’S service delivery overview and scrutiny panel, Councillor Keith Hoptroff, said: “Due to the recent wanton vandalism at the Leek Bus Station toilets and the unfortunate forced closure, we need to set up some form of security before we even contemplate carrying out expensive repair work and reopening to the public again.
“What progress has been made in providing some form of CCTV coverage around the area that was discussed at this panel’s meeting on November 3, 2021?”
In reply, Councillor Ross Ward, who has the responsibility for communities, said: “Unfortunately, the Smithfield WCS have been the focus of vandalism for some time now. In spring 2020, a major capital refurbishment project was undertaken to improve accessibility. This was completed at a cost of almost £100k.
“Despite this there were repeated minor acts of vandalism through autumn and winter 2020. In March 2021 an explosive device was set off in the ladies WC causing significant structural and fire damage.
“The WC had to be closed for an extended period whilst they were fixed at further cost of £20,000. Since then there has been intermittent issues of vandalism.
“Most recently we have both ladies and gents being targeted more often. Graffiti, fire damage, ripping off toilet roll holders, ripping of toilet doors, food being ground into walls and floors, littering, purposefully blocking toilets.”
Councillor Ward added: “It should be noted that placing CCTV inside the WCS is not an option due to them being a toilet. Therefore, CCTV can only cover the entrances to the WCS. Therefore, unless any criminal activity happened outside of the WCS the best we can hope for is that it will capture those entering and exiting the WCS at a specific time.
“Although this may not stand up as evidence in a prosecution, we can hope that it will act as a deterrent to prevent the antisocial behaviour.
“Openview – our CCTV contractor – have been commissioned to install an additional camera at Leek
Bus Station in response to the repeated vandalism. The camera is due to go-live by the end of the month when the CCTV network is switched over from analogue to digital.”