Accessibility campaigners say more public toilets needed to end Haringey 'loo deserts'

Council committee hears that too many public toilets in the borough are closed or not fit for purpose, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Loos for Haringey campaigners outside George Meehan House

Campaigners have warned parts of Haringey are now “loo deserts” as they called for more public toilets to stop people from being trapped at home.

Loos for Haringey, a local campaign group, urged the council to work with residents to help boost toilet provision, saying this would help to tackle social isolation and support the local economy.

Backed by national charity Age UK, the group’s members include Haringey Over 50s Forum, the Toilet Manifesto for London, Hornsey Pensioners Action Group and Friends of Chestnuts Park.

Campaigners from Loos for Haringey attended a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday. Patrice Wellesley-Cole told councillors that a lack of public toilets can “trap people at home” and “stops many from living the life they want to live”.

She added: “It can exacerbate social isolation and impact the local economy as people choose to spend less time in shopping areas.”

A survey of Londoners carried out by Age UK London last year revealed 81% of people feel there is not enough toilet provision in their borough.

Patrice said one-in-five people leave their home less often than they would like to because of the lack of public toilets – rising to nearly 50% for people with certain health conditions.

She said it was “shocking” that over half of respondents to the Age UK London survey said they reduce the amount they drink before going to some places.

Loos for Haringey called on the council to develop a strategy to improve the provision of public toilets, providing a “joined-up approach” based on local population needs.

The group called for a named council officer to report on the strategy, which would involve working with residents and coming up with an action plan.

Patrice warned the situation in Haringey was “not good”, with “shut-off loos” such as in Turnpike Lane and toilets being in “poor condition” in St Ann’s Road. She called for action to tackle the lack of toilets at Tottenham Hale Retail Park and “loo deserts” such as north Tottenham and “towards Archway”.

Under questioning from the committee, Loos for Haringey member Gordon Peters suggested the council could encourage businesses to put signs in their windows to indicate they accept people with a toilet need.

He said “good, accessible” toilets should be “built into anything that is planned” and the council should take retrospective action to tackle shortages in areas that have already been extensively developed, such as Tottenham Hale.

A strategy would help identify the gaps in provision and provide “a rolling programme of where improvements can be made”, he explained.

Lucia das Neves, the council’s cabinet member for health, social care and wellbeing, welcomed the deputation and said she would be responsible for the strategy. She added the council’s health and wellbeing board would consider the issue at future meetings.

Cllr das Neves said the authority would work with residents to look at what is possible now and in the future. She said the council was “on board” with the project, adding that while “it may take us some time to get where we need to be” the authority would also look at addressing some of the urgent issues raised by the deputation.

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