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Shops join Boris's plan to make it free to spend a penny
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard18 Mar 2009
RETAIL giants Tesco, John Lewis, Sainsbury's, Borders, and Marks and Spencer have become the first companies to sign up to Boris Johnson's scheme to increase access to lavatories in the capital.
There has been a 40 per cent decline in facilities in London since 1999 - particularly affecting the elderly and families with small children.
The Open London scheme promotes businesses that allow the public to use their facilities during opening hours without the need to buy anything.
Mr Johnson said: "I am delighted that some of this country's biggest high street names are among the first to join my Open London scheme and I want to thank them on behalf of Londoners for allowing the public to use their toilets.
"I'm sure that the scheme will bring real benefits to the businesses thanks to the extra visitors it will bring to their premises."
Reader views (8)
Councils have realised that the law empowers them to provide loos, but does not compel them, so Waltham Forest has been busily knocking down its public loos for two or three years.(The annual saving neatly equalled the increase in salary that the Councillors then voted for themselves) The snag is that, once they all go, there is no compulsion for any other venue to continue the open service if they don't want to. It's easy to imagine some unpleasant episode that would persuade a cafe or pub that the trouble wasn't worth the small fee to stay in the scheme. Our loos had a good record until the Council sacked the staff, whereupon they became disgusting, giving the Council an excuse to condemn a problem that was entirely of their own making. As a top-up to public loos, this idea is fine; as a substitute, it's enormously short-sighted, and only serves an asset-stripping agenda.
- Mdj E10, london uk, 27/03/2009 23:29
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The toilets in one major shop on Oxford Street are a disgrace. I avoid using them even though I am a customer they are so filthy especially on weekends. I do not go to this shop's coffee shop because of the condition of the toilets - which are on the same floor.
I hope all these free toilets are regularly checked by the Council.
- Merrie, London, 20/03/2009 13:57
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All pubs should be required to give access to their loos as a condition of their drinks licence. Over to you, Boris!!
- Andrew Bremer, London England, 18/03/2009 17:24
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McDonalds always have public toilets; and clean ones.
As a Londoner; I have learned where all the Hotels and Pub toilets are; I use them since all our public ones where closed; by you know who.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 18/03/2009 16:12
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Thanks for this Boris, can you please extend the schemes to coach terminals and train stations? I think its unfair to charge passengers to spend a penny, after purchasing an overpriced ticket.
- Kate, London UK, 18/03/2009 15:40
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Here is a novel idea- lets go back to providing public lavatories!
I would rather my taxes were spent on this kind of public service, than wasted on some PC rubbish.
- Stephen, London, 18/03/2009 14:34
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Many think the streets of London are paved in gold. These days it's more likely the streets are stained golden yellow from urine. As a resident of the West End I see more than my fair share of stale urine on the streets. More free, clean, bright and safe public toilets are a great thing.
- Ben, W1, London, 18/03/2009 13:17
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I'm very relieved to hear this. One of the many good reasons for shopping in John Lewis is that they provide clean toilets.
- Sarahn, London, UK, 18/03/2009 12:30
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