Have you ever written a poem to express your frustration about an issue in your area?
Orpington resident of almost 40 years, Jenny Bowler, 75, has done just that.
She sternly believes there is not enough public toilets in Orpington.
Ms Bowler said: "I started thinking about it last week after I found toilets which were locked. Something needs to be done. I mulled it over at the weekend and put this poem together."
Here is the poem in full which she sent in to News Shopper.
A plea for a wee
As we age we increase our ills
And find we are taking many more pills
One of these is likely to be
A water pill to make us wee.
No problem while we are safe at home
But not so good when we need to roam.
A trip to the shops in our home town
Is more than enough to make us frown.
The only loo is closed and locked
Where to go just has us foxed
And we do need to wee.
In the past use the gym we were told but up all those steps not good when you are old
And we do need to wee.
Perhaps that new hotel might agree to allow the use of their facility
But no, on the door is a note to say
Sorry, but only for those who stay.
And we still need to wee.
Use Costa some say but we think we would rather
Use Tesco despite it being much farther
There are several there no risk of a queue;
oh dear if only we knew.
So abandon the shopping and to Tesco make haste
Only to find the journey a waste
Because when we get there
Its worse than a queue
We find to our horror they are all
'Out of order'.
So come on Orpington
Don't let us down
Please, open the loo in the
Centre of town.
News Shopper contacted Orpington 1st for a comment about the toilet saga.
Executive director of Orpington 1st, Sharon Baldwin, decided to respond with her own poem which you can read below.
To pee or not to pee
When the council decided to close them down,
The only pubic loos in town,
The BID stepped in to save the day
And make customers comfortable during their stay.
But although most who visited knew how to use them,
A few bad apples chose to abuse them.
But hooray, the Walnuts have taken the view
That they can provide the much needed loo.
So in a few weeks’ time when the work is complete,
Your visit to Orpington will be a real treat.
Along with shops and services, of which there are many –
A shiny new place to spend a penny!
It is not yet clear whether Bromley Council will respond with a poem of their own.
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