Police rescue needed after incident at refurbished bus station facilities
A MAN had to be rescued from the newly refurbished toilets on Leek Bus Station on Saturday morning.
Now council officers are to look into the issue as a matter of urgency after a driver also had to be released from the building.
Police officers were called to the scene on Saturday after the man was heard shouting for help from the disabled toilet.
The toilets have just had thousands of pounds spent on a refurbishing programme, after many complaints were received over their poor condition.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: “We were called at 8.20am on Saturday, September 19 to reports of a man stuck in the disabled toilet at Leek Bus Station. He was rescued a short time later.”
Rachael Bourne works in the nearby Smithfield News shop from where they called the emergency services for help.
She said: “There is a problem with the disabled toilet as people keep getting locked in. Someone came into the shop on Saturday saying that they had heard a man shouting for help from the disabled toilet. It is believed he had been in there for some time. We rang 999 and the police were sent. I think they used some tools to get him out.
“This was not the first time this has happened as earlier in the week a bus driver was trapped very early in the morning. He had to ring his depot for someone to come out to release him.
“It is not ideal for people to use the disabled toilet and then get locked in. It can cause people to panic as it is claustrophobic. The main toilet blocks are not opened until 10am which is too late for early morning passengers.”
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, who have refurbished the toilets, confirmed the council was aware of the issue.
A spokesperson said: “We are investigating this as a matter of urgency with the contractor who carried out the recent refurbishment works.”
The opening hours of the new toilets were discussed at last week’s meeting of Leek Town Council.
Councillor Richard Benefer said: “The newly refurbished toilets on Leek Bus Station are not open until 10am and close at 4pm. These are not the busiest times on the bus station.”
District and town councillor Brian Johnson said that he would contact Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to look at extending the opening hours.