British Toilet Association: News from the BTA
Matters lavatorial could well eclipse the weather as Britain's number one obsession - and quite rightly too! We may learn to live with bad weather but we're growing increasingly impatient with the poor quality of many of our public toilets, as articles and letters in local papers all over Britain testify.
We'll be placing all press releases about the British Toilet Association campaign for better toilets for all on this website so that you can follow our progress.
Our latest press release can be read below, and you can access earlier releases from our archive.
160 years and closing!
On 2nd February 1852 the first public toilets were opened in Fleet Street central London. These ‘Public Waiting Rooms’ were advertised in The Times and on handbills distributed around the City.
One hundred and sixty years later over 40% of the UK’s public toilets have been closed and more will follow.
Public toilets meet a basic human need for a town or city’s residents and visitors and provide mobility to many older people, and those with a disability, who’s freedom to travel is restricted when there is ‘nowhere to go’.
The British Toilet Association continues to campaign and encourage local authorities to maintain clean, hygienic and well maintained public conveniences where and when they are needed.
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and Paralympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
LOCOG have pledged to provide first class toilets facilities for all Event visitors within the confines of all Olympic and Paralympic Event venues. These will include toilets for males, females, babies and children, accessible toilets and changing places toilets. They will include portable toilets and permanent toilets within 'permanent' venue locations.
BTA are concerned however that publicly accessible toilet facilities outside of the venue 'fenced areas' may not be adequate. For example the current provision in the main venues area, including Weymouth, are not good for current needs, and will be totally inadequate for the significant increase in users throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games period.
In our view, the availability of publicly accessible toilets in Central London, where millions of additional visitors will be during the games and celebrating the Jubilee, will also not be adequate to meet needs, based on current provision.
Mike Bone
Director
British Toilet Association
2nd February 2012
Further information from:
Mike Bone, British Toilet Association
T: +44 (0) 1403 258779
E: enquiries@britloos.co.uk