"Coventry needs more public toilets say 'guerrilla' campaign group"

[dutchman]

Members of Need the Loo were out in Broadgate



A campaign group will step up its bid to stop public toilets in Coventry going down the pan. Members of Need the Loo were out in the Broadgate area of the city centre yesterday, Monday, April 29, to place ‘guerrilla signage’ directing visitors to public conveniences.

They say it is is in the absence of sufficient signage provided by the council and that toilets in the city generally are inadequate.

A survey by the group found 55 per cent of respondents avoid using public toilets and a quarter limited their time shopping in the centre to get home to their own facilities more quickly.

A spokesman for the group said: "Being able to use clean, accessible public toilets, often urgently, is an issue of dignity and safety affecting disabled people, people with long term health conditions, older people, parents with small children and many more.

"The issue may not directly affect everyone right now but could at some point in their lives.

"We were motivated to act after hearing many different experiences from people who need to access toilets easily and without fuss but are struggling to do so in Coventry city centre."

The group acknowledges that some support has come from the council's public health department, including the provision of an accessible map of toilets online.

And that £450m is being spent on developing Coventry City South which may improve matters.

But members say better and more signage is needed, maintenance should be improved and provision is lacking in some areas of the city centre.

They would like businesses and tourist attractions to make their toilets available for easy public use.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “Coventry fairs well compared to lots of other towns and cities where there are little or no public toilets at all.

"There are a number of toilets in our city centre – in shopping centres, shops and restaurants, attractions and council run toilets in the library. And with pressure on budgets its right that the provision of toilets is a joint effort.

"The council toilets in the library are open every day during working hours and they have a member of staff on site to ensure cleansing and maintenance issues can be dealt with. We have also recently secured additional funding to provide additional accessible Changing Places and this includes one set to open in the new Shopmobility on May 7.

"And the new Changing Places facility at the railway station is open until the last train leaves in the evening.

“All of the new wayfinding maps that went in recently include the locations of the nearest toilets – so no one should struggle to locate where they are.

"There is also a growing understanding by the BID and businesses of why some people might need to use a toilet facility."

[dutchman]

At last, a subject I'm qualified to speak on!

Spoiler:

(according to mrs dutchman )