'Public urination in our town is getting worse'

Kamal Uddin is calling on Ipswich Council to do more to prevent people from urinating in public

Residents have spoken out about the “terrible” and “unsightly” issue of public urination in a town centre.

Ipswich Borough Council has launched a new campaign to try and stop people from urinating in public in Ipswich, Suffolk, by installing signs that encourage people to report such incidents.

One resident called on the authority to provide more public lavatories for people. She said: “Those [who urinate publicly] obviously feel so desperate and then just have to take their chance, but it’s not a thing to do in public is it.”

The authority said it would “take action” against anyone caught urinating in public, which it added was “not acceptable” behaviour.

Ipswich Council has installed posters across the town to encourage people to report incidents

Shaun Riley, who lives in Ipswich, said: “It’s people from out of town, it’s got to be. It’s terrible around here and especially down where I live – it’s bad.

“I don’t catch them but I come out and it’s there in a big puddle and against the wall but what can you do? If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.

“I know it’s unsightly but I’ve been caught short myself. It’s not right, but what can you do?"

Mavis Cubit has called for more public toilets to be opened in Ipswich

Mavis Cubit, 76, who lives in the town, believed that more toilets in and around the the centre of Ipswich could be the answer to stopping people from urinating in public.

She said: “I do think we could have a few more facilities. Why can’t we have something near the town centre and where people know where they are?

“Those [who urinate publicly] obviously feel so desperate and then just have to take their chance, but it’s not a thing to do in public is it.”

Residents also suggested that lavatories with greater accessibility should be built in Ipswich, and some disabled residents said they found “it difficult to find” a loo.

One resident said the issue was terrible in the area of the town in which they lives

Kamal Uddin, 64, who lives in Ipswich, said the authority needs to act sooner rather than later.

"Ten to 15 years ago there were not these sort of things, but now it has gotten worse everywhere.

“I don’t like this sort of thing and I am very worried for the future because I just don’t know what’s going on.

“We have to do something now or there will be more problems coming.”

John Cook, a Labour councillor on the authority and portfolio holder for communities, said: "Urinating in public is not acceptable. Ipswich Borough Council will take action where people are caught in the act.

“Ipswich people have a right to expect the council to be on their side in making Ipswich a cleaner, safer and better place to live."