British Toilet Association: Archived News from the British Toilet Association 

Plea to re-open city centre toilets

AROUND 5,500 people are backing a campaign to get closed public toilets in Newport city centre reopened.

Traders started a petition two weeks ago urging to council to open the Austin Friars loos after they were closed as part of budget cuts on April 1.

They say they have been overwhelmed by the support of shoppers and workers who have signed the petition, which they hope to hand in to the council the next council meeting.

Kelvin Reddicliffe, 55, who works at Timpsons Ltd shoe repair and key cutters, said: “I have had so much reaction from it, even where I live in Maindee, people are coming up to me in the street asking if they can sign it.

“It has hit a nerve with people. They are just so disappointed.”

Newport council closed the toilets to save money and because they were only accessible by steep steps and were therefore unsuitable for some disabled and elderly people.

But Mr Reddicliffe said people still have to walk down steep steps to get to the bus station toilets from John Frost Square, which the council offered as an alternative facility.

Sue Williams, 55, who runs Elbow Rooms hair salon said she had contacted Cllr David Fouweather, the council’s cabinet member for environment and community services, to complain that the lights in the Austin Friars ladies toilets had been left on despite being closed.

She said: “They say they want to save money and then they leave the lights on.”
Ms Williams has also contacted Newport West MP Paul Flynn who said he would support the campaign.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “Newport City council understands that a petition is being compiled asking for the Austin Friars toilets to be re-opened. The council will consider fully the issues raised by the petition.”

South Wales Argus Thursday 13th May 2010