If you’ve spoken to me recently, you’ve probably heard me moaning about the lack of public toilets open during coronavirus. And, I know this is probably annoying, but I actually think it is a really important issue. Let me explain why...
The amount of public toilets open during covid-times has been dramatically reduced. I don’t have a statistic for this (sorry) but, from personal experience of two cities (Durham and York), I have noticed it. As well as public toilets being closed, cafes, restaurants, gyms, hotels etc. which are all still allowed to be at least partially open in tier 3 areas, refuse to let people use their toilets.
(Image: GETTY)
An example of this is how Freemans Quay in Durham (you know the one) refuses to let people use their toilets unless they have a membership card. I’m sorry, but what does having a membership card have to do with using a toilet? What if an old lady was about to wee herself or a girl about to bleed through her jeans- how does having a membership give anyone any more right to use a toilet?
Of course the reason for toilet closures is because of the increased risk of coronavirus transmission, but it doesn't stop anyone from needing a wee, it merely makes people congregate in places where there are toilets open. So, I really don’t see how it reduces the spread of covid.
Additionally, I don’t think that closing something so necessary is justified because of coronavirus. Toilets are a basic necessity for humans- especially women, disabled people, homeless people, children, and the elderly. They should be Covid-adapted- not just closed altogether.
Here are a few scenarios to consider when thinking about how necessary it is for people to have access to something as basic as a toilet:
20-25% of women of childbearing age are on their period at any one time (Invisible Women, 2019).
Elderly people’s bladder gets weaker with age.
UTI’s, which affect elderly women the most, require greater access to toilets.
A pregnant person needs to go to the toilet more frequently as her bladder is much smaller/weaker than the usual person.
According to Bupa, around 2 in 10 people have IBS in the UK.
However, regardless of all the above, simply holding a wee in is bad for people’s health and can cause things like UTI's.
Coronavirus, combined with how nearly 700 council-run toilets were closed between 2010-2019 (Royal Society for Public Health), means that so many people simply cannot go out because of this issue.
Looking on the UK government website, there is no mention about a need to close public toilets (see below). All it says is that they advise businesses to take extra precautions with examples of how to do that.
‘Public toilets, portable toilets and toilets inside premises should be kept open and carefully managed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.’
(www.gov.uk Last updated: Nov 30, 2020)
So, my question to business and councils is why are they denying people a basic right and limiting their accessibility?
One reason could be that the people who own these establishments may not experience the issues which I have mentioned. Another could be that business/councils simply cannot afford to keep toilets up to the high sanitary standards needed to ensure safe usage.
I am not sure on the reason and therefore cannot even offer a solution. Nevertheless, this is still an issue that we should be talking about and trying to sort out.
Ways to help:
Email the council/ businesses
Email your mp
Talk about it and make sure people who aren't affected by it actually understand that it is an issue
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