Anger over frequent closure of vandalised toilets

Tara Blencowe says she wants to enjoy the park for a few hours without having to leave to find a toilet

Residents say it is "disgusting" that the last remaining toilets in a town in Nottinghamshire are often closed.

The block at King George V Recreation Ground recently became the only toilet provision in Arnold after the closure of the Wood Street toilets because of "lewd behaviour".

Tara Blencowe, 51, uses the park and said there was a recent situation where an elderly man needed to be helped because the toilets were locked.

Councillor David Ellis, portfolio holder for public protection on Gedling Borough Council, said the facility was frequently vandalised to an "unusable and unsafe" condition which necessitates its closure for repairs.

The toilet facility was opened last year at a cost of £191,500

Ms Blencowe, who brings her grandson to the park, said: "It's totally put me off coming because there's no toilet facilities or baby changing facilities that I can access."

She visited the park on Monday and said she had to walk half-a-mile (800m) to use a supermarket toilet instead, which she said would be problematic in emergency situations.

"People will be put off visiting unless [the council] say 'yes we are going to open these toilets' and stick to their word," she said.

Kaidee, Kairah, and Denise are frequent visitors to the recreation ground

Denise, 53, brings her great nieces to the park after school. She says being forced to pay to use the toilet at nearby coffee shops makes her visits "expensive".

"I think [the closures are] a bit heavy-handed because it's caused by a minority," she added.

"I know they have had problems here but I think it's unfair to the rest of the people."

Her eight-year-old great-niece Kairah says it makes her feel "upset" when the toilet is closed.

"Last time we went there [when it was open] it was filled with drink bottles and it didn't flush," she said.

Councillor David Ellis says the toilets are "too often out of order"

Ellis acknowledged that people "aren't getting their money's worth" because of the frequent closures.

He said the toilet and sink had been designed to resist damage, however, vandals were instead blocking them with paper and starting fires inside the toilet bowl.

Regarding its status as the last public toilet in the town, he said the council would fight to keep it open despite the rise in maintenance costs.

"The council does as best as it can to try and keep them clean, tidy, and open, but sometimes it's an uphill battle," he said.

"We know young people want to get out and do things, but vandalising a public toilet causes lots of inconvenience to everybody."