Rural facilities are inadequate

THE most pressing priority for local residents and visitors are the public toilets in the council car park in Runswick Bay.

These facilities were closed by Scarborough Borough Council a few years ago as they were deemed unviable.

As you may know Runswick Bay was voted Britain’s best beach last year by the Sunday Times and has this year been featured on a number of television programmes.

This has led to a massive increase in the number of visitors and the facilities are not sufficient to cope.

Last year there were reports of people relieving themselves in the local fields and hedgerows. Despite requests to Scarborough Borough Council, whose new administration seems to spend its money in the major towns, there has been no action to open these toilets. There are small public toilets in the bottom village but these are not adequate to cater for the number of visitors.

In Staithes and Sandsend there are two sets of public toilets, one of these in each location are in need of refurbishment as they look like something from the 1960s.

It is time Scarborough Borough Council supported the council tax payers in the rural areas with appropriate facilities rather than spending the budget solely in Whitby and Scarborough.

WITH lockdown restrictions easing, there is an understandable buzz of excitement in the air as people head outside to see loved ones and enjoy the warmer weather. But we are hearing from many blind and partially sighted people who are anxious about public spaces becoming busier and have lost confidence in going outside after a year of Covid restrictions.

Measures to enforce social distancing often rely on the ability to see things like signs, queuing systems or barriers. When you can’t see these changes, they can create new obstacles to navigate and further erode confidence.

We’re asking the public to help us safely social distance as the restrictions change.

By being aware of the challenges we might face, and simply asking if assistance is needed, you can help us keep our independence and stay safe.

We’re also calling for local authorities and businesses to take action, so that measures designed to protect us are inclusive to everyone, not just to those who can see them.

RNIB’s website has more information about this. Please visit www.rnib.org.uk for details.

Our ‘new normal’ should be as open and inclusive as possible, to help everyone get back outside – not make it more difficult.

It is time Scarborough Borough Council supportedcounciltax payers in the rural areas with appropriate facilities IAN WALKER

Charity appeals for help with new normal David Clarke, Director of