No Relief for Residents who are Caught Short

The imminent closure of public toilets has brought Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents Association (SARA) into head-on collision with its own councillors, who claim SARA should have "consulted" them before campaigning to save the public loos at Stoneleigh. Lib Dem opposition councillors, who called for a "Community Toilet Scheme" to be set up before the public loos were closed, are bemused. Surely it should be the other way round?

According to the RA Constitution, shouldn't the RA councillors have consulted their sponsoring Residents Association first before deciding to close the loos?

Cllr Julie Morris, leader of the Lib Dem group, said "Most RA councillors get their election expenses paid by their Residents Association. If they fail to take note of their sponsoring Association's views, what chance does public opinion have?"

Lib Dem Cllr Alison Kelly from Town ward has been following the situation closely, because the Upper High Street toilets will also be closed. She says that Surrey County Council were asked to allow their Stoneleigh Library loos to become part of a Community Toilet Scheme, but they would not agree. She said "This is an obvious choice since it is already a public building. Nearby public toilets shouldn't be closed until an alternative can be found. Community Toilet Schemes (where shops and businesses allow their loos to be used by members of the public and display a sticker in the window to this effect) work well in other boroughs, such as Richmond."

This is another blow for local traders who rely on business from passing trade. Residents, particularly older people, will be forced to shop in other areas that do have conveniences. The provision of public loos was the original reason for having local councils! Cllr Morris said "Sadly the RA councillors in control of our council are just too set in their ways to embark upon such a modern and successful idea as a Community Toilet Scheme."