Protest at Thanet council over clock tower toilet closure

CHAIN REACTION: The toilet protest at Thanet council offices Photo John Horton

Spending a penny has never been so costly as campaigners gathered in Margate to protest the closure of a seafront public toilet ahead of the tourist season.

Campaigners and protesters say although they realise structural work needs to be undertaken they do not understand why it wasn’t completed months ago and in readiness for the summer season.

Photo John Horton

Lib Dem candidate for Cliftonville West Darryn De La Soul and Bus Cafe owner Jodie Eleny-Smith  led the protests as families and residents brought an array of cistern-inspired props for the occasion.

 

 

Gary Perkins, who is standing in the local elections for Sir Moses Montefiore ward, Ramsgate, went above the call of nature and built a toilet prop for the demonstration. “It took about an hour. It was made from an old stage set,” he said.

Photo John Horton

Councillior Karen Constantine was at the protest with outgoing Labour stalwart Iris Johnston making an appearance. Music blared from the speakers as demonstrators chanted loo-related slogans.

Trevor Kennett, Head of Operational Services, said: “We have commissioned a full structural and condition survey to understand the full extent of all of these issues and establish what works are needed to make the toilets safe again. Until they can be made safe they will temporarily remain closed to the public.

Photo John Horton

“While the facilities are in a prime location on Margate Main Sands and are well used by visitors to the town during the summer months, these aren’t the only toilets in Margate. The other sites remain open. Efforts are being made to secure temporary toilets to ensure that there are additional facilities in this area while the Clock Tower toilets are out of action.”

Photo John Horton

The opening of the seasonal toilets brings the number of available public facilities up to 27 from 20 in the off-season.

A review of public toilets across the isle is currently taking place as part of a bid to save £175,000 in Thanet council’s 2019-20 budget.

Councils are not required by law to provide the loos and continuing cuts to local authority funding have resulted in public toilets plunging by more than 600 across the country since 2010.

In 2010 Thanet council maintained 33 public toilets, dropping to 28 last year.

The listed urinal at Park Road will be sold Photo Frank Leppard

In January Cabinet members approved the sell-off of sites including closed public toilets in Beresford Gap, Birchington, Marina Road, Ramsgate, Minnis Bay, Birchington, Park Road, Margate, St Johns Cemetery, Margate and Albion Street, Broadstairs.

In February The Isle of Thanet News revealed public toilets in Thanet could be closed in favour of a ‘community loo’ scheme.

The scheme involves businesses putting a sticker or poster in their window to let people know the facilities are available for use. The council then has a monitoring procedure in place, which includes spot checks, and needs to provide extra provision when there are large public events being held.

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5 Comments

  1. Clearly a lot of people have gone to a lot of effort with this protest – such a shame that TDC does not make half as much effort.

    There is no reason why a few temporary toilets should not be in place until the repairs are carried out. The excuse that “these aren’t the only toilets in Margate” is not acceptable. These toilets are needed for all the visitors using the Council’s Dreamland car park when they arrive for the beach and again when they leave the beach to go home.

    To do nothing for the Easter weekend was unforgivable. Undoubtedly nothing will happen for the upcoming May Bank Holiday weekend either.

    “Efforts are being made to secure temporary toilets” says Mr Kennet. The evidence is that little or no effort whatsoever has been made. There are plenty of firms on the internet offering next day delivery !

    Time for somebody to get their finger out of their ****

  2. Well done to Rob Yates and Helen Whitehead for setting up the official TDC petition, and to Jodie Ellena for setting up the online one. Clearly a busy beach needs loos!

  3. Who are the responsible officers at TDC for public conveniences, and the cabinet members who agreed to the sell-offs of other toilets? It’s not good enough that just a few people can take these decisions on behalf of the residents and visitors to Thanet. Often those decisions are detrimental to the area, like these.

  4. In WW1 they dug latrines. May be the only solution? Having a pee is a basic human function NOT a luxury. If the council are not responsible for public conveniences why do they have the right to sell them? Not fair for local pubs and restaurants to have to cope with their private toilets at busy times. Brodstairs had some portaloos last weekend. Better than nothing.

  5. A coach load of visitors came down to Margate from South London,your loos are disgusting along the front by the sands,TDC.where are your cleaners,never maintainted.

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