Agenda item

Jennifer Lissaman asked the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure the following question:

 

Question

I am asking this question on behalf of the Wokingham Waterside Centre (WWC) Board of which I am a member.

 

Since April this year there has been tremendous use of the beautiful open space between WWC and Thames Valley Park Nature Reserve, the majority of people spending the whole day there and sometimes overnight as well.  Soon, the Park and Ride, to the rear of WWC will be open.

 

As agreed with this Council earlier this year WWC has one toilet on the outside of the building for use only with a RADAR key.  The outcome of this is, unfortunately, that people are using land adjacent to the campsite at WWC, and possibly the Nature Reserve, to relieve themselves. WWC trustees/board members find this unacceptable and ask that you find a way to provide properly working public toilets in a location appropriate to this sensitive location by the River Thames National Path.

Minutes:

 

Question

I am asking this question on behalf of the Wokingham Waterside Centre (WWC) Board of which I am a member.

 

Since April this year there has been tremendous use of the beautiful open space between WWC and Thames Valley Park Nature Reserve, the majority of people spending the whole day there and sometimes overnight as well.  Soon, the Park and Ride, to the rear of WWC will be open.

 

As agreed with this Council earlier this year WWC has one toilet on the outside of the building for use only with a RADAR key.  The outcome of this is, unfortunately, that people are using land adjacent to the campsite at WWC, and possibly the Nature Reserve, to relieve themselves.  WWC trustees/board members find this unacceptable and ask that you find a way to provide properly working public toilets in a location appropriate to this sensitive location by the River Thames National Path.

 

Answer

I must admit I have used that location myself during very sunny days and it is very pleasant out there.

 

Going back to 2009, in line with many other authorities throughout the country, the Council took the decision to stop providing standalone public toilet facilities and instead established a Local Loo Scheme where local businesses and other facilities (such as Council offices) make their toilets available for public use.  This decision was taken because these toilets were costly to maintain due to regular incidents of vandalism and graffiti.  The toilets also attracted anti-social behaviour and were often closed to the public for repairs.

 

This approach has worked well for many years and has proved a more efficient way of ensuring access to toilets across the Borough.

 

Due to the size and semi-rural nature of our Borough, it is not practical for the Council to provide public toilet facilities in every location where residents may want to use them.  We urge everyone who lives in and visits our Borough to adhere to the laws around public decency and to report any instances where this isn’t happening to the police.

 

Supplementary Question

We were part of the Local Loo Scheme but that is the reason that there was a discussion with the Council earlier this year, and one of the toilets was closed because it could not cope with the usage and was broken.  That is why there is only one toilet for use with a RADAR key.  There were local loos available there.  The Waterside Centre was paid to run them, but now there is only one for those with disabilities.  You are not quite up-to-date with the latest usage of these things and I wondered if we could perhaps have some progress on this with a meeting with either yourself or the relevant Officer to discuss a way forwards, otherwise the situation can only get worse?  It is not acceptable to have people using the Waterside Centre grounds as a public toilet.

 

Supplementary Answer

I totally agree Jenny.  There is a need for everybody to be responsible for their own behaviour, especially at this this time when resources are spread so thin, for us as an authority, and the Police.  Essentially the point is why should the Council spend more money responding to the behaviour of a few people who spoil the experience for the vast majority visiting the area near the Thames.  I am very happy to meet you offline with the appropriate Officer to discuss this further.