Public back petition to keep toilets

Jamie MacDonald • Published 14 Apr 2010 10:23 7 Comments

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A sign in the Speirs Centre states there are no toilet facilities there.

LAST week's Continental Market gave Alloa Central Community Council the opportunity to galvanise support for their campaign to save the town's public toilets.

Anna Forbes and Gary Robertson, from the community council, visited the town's High Street with their 'Save oor lavvies' petition and said the support from shoppers was incredible as over 1500 signed up to oppose the closing of the town centre public toilets.

In setting its budget for the current financial year Clackmannanshire Council took the decision to close the facilities at Maple Court.

Anna, chair of the community council, told the Advertiser, "The backing has been overwhelming. We were there throughout the market and people were queuing up to sign the petition.

"They say they want to attract visitors to the town but they have taken away an essential service. If you arrive in a town you want to make yourself comfortable before spending some time there and this won't happen here."

She added, "Two or three of the shop keepers we spoke to and even some of the Business Improvement District team were unaware the toilets were closing. There has been so much money spent in the town recently yet they have lost a necessity."

Shoppers in the town centre have been pointed to the facilities at the nearby supermarkets and also to the toilets at the Speirs Centre and library, Clackmannanshire Council's other buildings. However, the Speirs Centre and library toilets do not appear to be available at the current time.

Anna added that of the 1500 people who signed the petition only 115 were from outside the county which she feels shows that local feeling is particularly strong.

Anna went on, "We don't know if the council will change their mind but if we don't ask we won't get it."

Ochil MSP Keith Brown who signed the petition said, "Clackmannanshire Council confirmed to me that public toilet facilities are available at both the Library and the Speirs Centre but I think they have forgotten to inform their staff of this fact. The Speirs Centre has a sign saying no public toilets available and a member of my staff was told today at the Library that there are no public toilet faculties available."

He added, "I have already been told by a few regular visitors to the town that if they have they have to go to one of the supermarkets to use the toilets then they will just get in their car and leave which is not what we want to happen."

Clackmannanshire Council's director of Services to Communities, Garry Dallas, said, "The council will continue to provide access to public toilets in our libraries and civic/leisure centres. This will include a programme of refurbishment for some facilities such as at the Speirs Centre, Alloa, and Johnstone Centre, Alva.

"Where we have closed dedicated public toilets then signage will be reviewed to ensure the awareness of the availability of alternative facilities."

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Gary Robertson
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Apr 14, 11:17
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This is absolutely disgraceful. What are Clackmannanshire Council thinking of. They are suppose to be educated taking the best possible steps for the Wee County. As a member of the public said to me "I am 87 years of age and lived in Alloa all my life. I just want to say that this is the worst Council Administration I have ever come across." We had many, many comments like this against the council. Clackmannanshire Council won an award as being the best council in Scotland. I can only say "God help the other 31". Obviously, the awards omits Public Opinion. We're spending £2.4 million doing up the town centre in Alloa to attract people into the town. Next, we close the Public Toilets so that people will have no-where to go and that will keep them away. Clackmannanshire Council needs to make up it's mind. Do they want a Town Centre or do we close it. There is no point wasting public money if they want it closed. LET US KNOW NOW!

If you support the re-opening of the toilets, please email the Community COuncil on alloacentralcc@yahoo.com. This is YOR opportunity aas a member of the public to let your feelings be know.

Gary Robertson

SecretaryrnAlloa Central Community Council.

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Craig Hutchinson
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Apr 14, 11:25
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Clackmannanshire Council is now some 9 million in debt and Alloa's public toilets have become the latest victim in an attempt to save money. With the toilets now closed and the BID project facelift of the centre almost finished Alloa will be in effect, a town of "all skirt and nae knickers"

The expectation is that those in need of a public convenience should use Asda or Tesco - not really practical for those with children, the elderly etc.

Join the campaign on Facebook - Alloa needs a public convenience!

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Tricia Stevenson
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Apr 14, 20:59
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I no longer live in Clackmannanshire but still visit. The public toilets in Alloa (& in Tullibody)have always been clean & well maintained. The idea of a town the size of Alloa, a shopping hub for the county, not having public toilets is ridiculous.

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C. Wildau
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Apr 15, 22:54
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If the council wants to encourage people to come into Alloa they MUST provide the proper services.

It is unbelievable that public toilets are being closed all over the Wee County. Cafes, bars and restaurants will not tolerate members of the public using the facilities without spending money in their businesses so there definately has to be toilets and NOT the TIN CANS proposed. The Alloa public toilets in Shillinghill were always clean and well looked after by the staff.

And as for the traffic calming measures breeding all over the town.... which numpty decided to put them in the craziest places - at Church entrances, the length of Ludgate, Hill Street, Grange Road, Bedford Place etc. The are breeding like rabbits - what a waste of public funds and so ridiculously placed. Obviously the numpties who ordered these do not live locally.

Perhaps we should have a sign at the gateways to the Wee County - Nae Numpties Allowed!

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Jimy Lafferty
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Apr 19, 21:32
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Thing is they get the funding from Europe for the speed humps, they can do spend it and keep folk in jobs, sadly this council is over run with people who dont even live in the area so it doesnt matter to them about whats happening to the town. The town Centre with its new upgrade of grant money is going to be good though, sorry that most of the shops have closed and people who did shop in the area have now stopped and wont come back,how on earth these people are still in jobs in beyond me...Time to vote them who let this happen out of office, its the only way now before theres nothing left.

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A Round Tuit
Unregistered User
Apr 21, 14:56
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I'd like to say the council are taking the p**s

But they're not

And that's the problem

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burstinferawee
Unregistered User
Apr 22, 23:29
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This will only lead to more people having to go against a wall or in shop doorways when caught short..badurldetected.running the risk of being lifted by the polis. This move by the council will add a foul stench to the rubbish and litter already blighting Alloa town centre. When I receive visitors from abroad or other parts of the UK they always comment on how dirty Alloa is and they prefer to go to Stirling to spend their money...

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