Minutes:
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There are many toilets in the borough that can be used by the public. Some are in council buildings and some are standalone toilet facilities. There are also toilets in some of Southwark's parks. Please see the table below for details of the locations of toilets and the opening times and days. |
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All toilets are either disabled accessible, or have a disabled accessible alternative close by. |
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No new toilets are being built as there is no funding, or for ongoing maintenance costs. Walworth has 8 public toilets – more than many of the other wards so if money were available it is unlikely that a penny would be spent in Walworth. |
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Southwark has no legal obligation to provide public toilets; it is a free service. |
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Public Lavatories in Walworth |
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The list of all available public toilets is on the Southwark website (under Environment). Currently there are nine in the area referred to (8 listed under Walworth, plus Camberwell Green). The two old automatic toilets at the Elephant and Castle were closed this year as they were burnt out and beyond repair. They had not been working for some considerable time. However, these will be replaced under the long term development plans for the Elephant and Castle. There is a standing requirement that toilet provision is considered by Planning for any new developments within the borough. Some authorities have introduced schemes whereby private businesses are paid a set some per year if they provide suitable toilets for public use and advertise this service. However, there is no budget or funding for such a scheme within Southwark at the present time.
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The current Toilet Strategy was agreed by the Executive in 2005 . Under the terms of the Strategy, any toilets which did not comply with the Disablility Discrimination Act were to be closed and this was completed in 2006. However, where adequate access for the disabled could be provided, municipal buildings were to open their toilets for public use. |
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• Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, Elephant and Castle, Every day 8am to 6pm • SAST House, Dawes Street, SE17, Tuesday to Friday, 6am to 6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 6am to 4pm • Portland Street, Protland Street/East Street, SE17, Tuesday to Friday, 6 am to 6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 6am to 4pm • Taplow NHO, Thurlow Street, SE17 2UB, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm • Lorrimore Depot, 113 Lorrimore Road, SE17 6BR, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm • Chumleigh Gardens, Burgess Park, Chumleigh Street, SE5 0RJ, Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm • Burgess Park Tennis Centre, Burgess Park, Every day, dawn to dusk • Walworth One Stop Shop, 151 Walworth Road, SE17, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm |
A number of points were made by residents, including:
Ø There is only one lavatory between Elephant & Castle and Camberwell Green. Some of the lavatories listed are only open between 9 and 5 on weekdays. Recently, a woman was seen urinating in East Street market; this was surely because there were no available lavatories.
Ø There are 2 lavatories for East Street market: one is clean, but the other one is disgusting. The clean lavatory is paid for by the market traders: if they stopped paying the one clean lavatory would be shut.
Ø A resident had visited the Housing Office and been refused access to the lavatory
Ø Des Waters said the Council was willing to erect more signs directing people to the existing lavatories. Norma said that that was not the problem, Walworth needed more lavatories
Ø Councillor Mohamed said that if the Community Council cannot get the Council to provide more lavatories, then what is the use of the Community Council? A motion should be passed requesting that something be done: at least that the lavatory paid for by the traders should be funded by the Council
Ø Public houses will not let people use their lavatories unless they are customers
Ø Des Waters said that he would be happy to say there was money available for providing lavatories and maintenance, but he cannot do this as the Council has to make choices as it has a restricted budget
Ø Mr Beadell asked which businesses Council officers had spoken to about providing the public with the use of their lavatories. Des Waters responded that officers had spoken to McDonald’s, Guy’s Hospital, the Tate Modern, supermarkets etc.
Ø Councillor Pidgeon suggested the Chair write to Councillor Kyriakou, the Executive Member for the Environment, informing him of the Community Council’s concerns about the lack of public lavatories and asking if he could review the situation in the light of this
AGREED: That the Chair write to the Executive Member for the Environment
(i) informing him of the concerns expressed by Members and residents over the lack of public lavatories in the Walworth area, and;
(ii) that he be requested to review the Toilet Strategy position on the provision of lavatories in the Walworth area, and;
(ii) that he be requested to consider funding the maintenance of the Portland Street lavatory from the budget of the other Council-run lavatories, as the maintenance of the lavatory is currently funded by the East Street market traders.