'Bus driver toilet is still a blight on my house'

Brett Kemp said the toilet is affecting his ability to sell his house and there have been months of delays in relocating it

A homeowner has criticised Transport for London (TfL) for failing to relocate a toilet for bus drivers outside his house.

Brett Kemp said the toilet was affecting his ability to sell the property in Purley, south London, and although TfL said months ago it was working to find a new location for a permanent facility, it had not been moved.

A TfL spokesperson said plans to relocate the toilet were "being finalised" and they were keeping Mr Kemp updated.

"We apologise that this has taken some time but we need to make sure the move is right for drivers and the community," they added.

Mr Kemp has described the smell from the toilet as "awful"

Mr Kemp said TfL told him in December it was given permission to move the toilet "early in the new year", but "ever since then they've been delaying it".

"They said there was going to be a trial run, with the buses turning round, to implement the new structure," he explained.

"But I got an email last Monday and they said we've had problems because we can't implement the new structure."

He previously told BBC London the toilet was originally in a more temporary-looking structure.

He said he acknowledged the importance of facilities for bus drivers but suggested the toilet could be placed further away from the residential area and school opposite.

Mr Kemp added: "It's just been delayed, delayed after they put it here in July last year - and they said it was a temporary structure but clearly it looks a bit more permanent now."

Mr Kemp also said the ongoing problem had affected his ability to sell his house and the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) was now looking at the situation.

"I had an offer, but when they saw the toilet they pulled the offer," he said.

"Nobody's going to buy this house with a toilet outside... the stench is awful".

He said he now believed he would have to drop the sale price of his house by £100,000 if the issue was not resolved soon.

A feasibility study was carried out in August between Croydon council and TfL, but Mr Kemp asked: "Why has it taken since August to move a temporary, portable toilet?

"It only needs to be lifted by a forklift truck and moved 30 yards, so I don't really understand the issues."

TfL said it needed to make sure that moving the toilet was "right for drivers and the community"

A TfL spokesperson said: "Plans to move the toilet to a permanent site following the temporary location are currently being finalised.

"It is essential for bus driver welfare that we maintain access to toilet facilities for drivers.

"We have been in regular contact with Mr Kemp on our plans and are now updating him on the latest.

"We apologise that this has taken some time but we need to make sure the move is right for drivers and the community."