Bromley public toilets branded 'disgusting' with not enough available

Bromley councillors have called for action make public toilets in the area more accessible, claiming some residents are limiting their fluid intake due to the lack of toilets available.

The topic was discussed at a Bromley full council meeting on October 16.

Lib Dem Councillor Will Connolly put forward a motion to make public toilets more accessible to residents, after calling toilets in Kelsey Park and Croydon Park Recreation Ground “disgusting”.

The public toilets at Kelsey Park

The proposal included appointing a designated officer to increase the number of public toilets in parks across the borough and launch an awareness campaign on the toilets available to use.

Cllr Connolly said at the meeting: “These amenities play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall experience of our residents and visitors.

"The lack of high standard publicly accessible toilets can prevent both adults and children from leaving their homes as often or for as long as they would like, and this can lead to social isolation.”

Labour Councillor Ryan Thomson said he supported the motion and highlighted the long documented push to improve public toilets in Crystal Palace Park.

Kelsey Park toilets

Labour Councillor Kathy Bance said she recalled when the community toilet scheme was introduced by Bromley Council to allow residents to use toilets in businesses without making a purchase, and said toilets in Penge were in a “deplorable” condition before the initiative was started.

Cllr Bance said at the meeting: “I often use the toilets in our parks. So I walk prepared with my own toiletries because most of the toilets in our parks are not stocked or cleaned properly, whereas Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s, which are community toilets, are immaculate.”

Conservative Councillor Colin Smith, leader of the council, agreed with Cllr Connolly that the state of several public toilets across the borough was disgusting.

Crystal Palace Park toilets

Despite this, he said the Conservative Group would not support the motion as it felt much of what was being asked for was already being done by the council.

He added that management of toilets in parks being passed on to sports clubs and friends of parks groups would be looked into by the council.

Cllr Smith said at the meeting: “The website needs a review and we need to update the information.

"I also understand that officers have been out recently looking at the signage in some areas. We clearly need to look at the signage in all the areas as well.”

Conservative Councillor Yvonne Bear, cabinet member for renewal, recreation and housing, said she agreed that the authority could be better at advertising the public toilets available.

She said the council is currently adding public toilet facilities to libraries where possible and that six new disabled toilets would be added across the borough from £400,000 of grant funding received under the Changing Places initiative, which aims to install accessible toilets across the UK.

Cllr Bear added: “We do recognise the importance of public toilets to people’s experience of the facilities whether it be parks or whether it be leisure centres and we are consequently working with partners across the borough, with any that are willing, to accept the Changing Places facility.”

Lib Dem Councillor Chloe-Jane Ross said she was disappointed that the Conservative Group would not be voting for the motion.

She said that the number of community toilets in Beckenham had decreased from eight down to one in recent years.

Cllr Ross added: “Like everything in life; it’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it. If nobody thinks there’s good enough toilet provision in our borough, and they’re making decisions not to drink enough water or not to go out, it’s irrelevant if you’ve got it or you’ve got some coming online if people don’t know it’s there.”

At the meeting, the motion regarding public toilets was not carried after a 25-22 vote.