RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health) had recently published a report on toilets.
They find:
- Three in four of the UK public think there are not enough public toilets in their area.
- Lack of facilities nearby acts as a ‘loo leash’, deterring as many as 20% from venturing out of their homes as often as they would like. This rises to 43% among those with medical conditions requiring frequent toilet use.
- Over half of the public restrict fluid intake due to concern over lack of toilet facilities. Deliberate dehydration can seriously affect health and exacerbate existing medical problems.
RSPH are looking for action on several past initiatives specific to London:
- Free access to some toilets at stations
- Free access to toilets at Cross Rail stations
- Mayor of London’s announcement of more toilets in 2017 plans
They also recommend ‘Spend a penny’ levies on travel. One penny from the price of every train and bus ticket in London would fund 700 fully facilities – more than 20 new public toilets for every borough.
Parks are highly valued by Londoners as potential spaces for physical activity. A lack of clean, safe and accessible toilet facilities can be a significant barrier to park usage.