|
|
 |
| |
| U-TURN ON SPENDING 50 PENNIES |
‘Steep’ charges set for
nearly ten public convieniences
CITY Hall is preparing to make a dramatic U-turn and introduce
“steep” charges to nearly ten public conveniences across
the West End.
Just months after the council insisted it would never bring in fees
for public toilets in the heart of the West End council officers
have drafted plans for a 50p charge for nine conveniences.
And even Councillor Alan Bradley, Westminster cabinet member for
street environment, yesterday (Thursday) admitted the charges were
“a bit steep”.
But he insisted that he would rather introduce charges than close
toilets down.
It is illegal for local authorities to charge for its public toilet
provision.
But Westminster Council managed to introduce charges to three toilets
around Parliament Square in January by exploiting a loop hole in
the law by farming out management of the toilets to a private company,
Carlisle Facilities Services.
At the time the council said they would never “charge in areas
where there are people drinking”.
But now the toilets earmarked for the charge include the ones in
the Embankment, toilets in the Strand near Trafalgar Square, just
off Oxford Street and in Piccadilly by Green Park Tube station.
Despite the plan, Cllr Bradley still insisted he would never introduce
charges in the heart of the West End.
He said: “We have made a budget provision for charges but no
decision has yet been made.
“We intend to give the pilot of the toilets around Parliament
Square a year’s run before we introduce any further charges.
Whatever happens we would not introduce charges into the heart of
the West End.
“But I would rather see charges introduced than have them close.”
But Cllr Bradley admitted the level of the charges might have to
be discussed.
Mainline railway stations, such as Victoria or King’s Cross,
charge 20p but Westminster has some of the most expensive public
toilets in London.
Troy Wear, the chairman of the Soho Business Association, said:
“The only way to avoid people urinating in the street is to
make toilets free.” |
|
|
