Blocked toilet leads to year long shut down!
January 2005

Toilet facilities by Clapham tube

Lambeth Council has shut down public toilet facilities in Clapham for a whole year because one of the toilets became blocked. Liberal Democrat and Tory Councillors who run Lambeth Council, shut down the toilet facilities next to Clapham Common Tube station when the blockage was reported, but have failed to re-open them in 12 months. Despite the original fault only being in the men’s toilets, both men’s and women’s facilities now remain locked 24 hours a day.

Under the last Labour Administration the facilities were refurbished and re-opened following a large petition by Clapham residents. For two years the facilities were available to local people, but then came the blockage.

Tory and Liberal Councillors claimed the toilets would be re-opened following a temporary shut down for repairs, but this has failed to materialise. Repeated enquiries by Clapham Town Labour Councillor Helen O’Malley about when the toilets will be re-opened have been left unanswered.

Labour Clapham Town Councillor, Helen O’Malley, commented:

“In a busy town centre such as Clapham it actually quite important to have proper public toilet facilities. My constituents keep asking me why they have been closed down. The only explanation I can give them is that Lambeth’s Lib Dem/Tory Council can’t manage a serious disaster such as a blocked toilet.”

“This just isn’t good enough. My constituents want these toilets re-opened as a matter of urgency. Andrew Sawdon, the Liberal Democrat in charge of this service area should tell the people of Clapham exactly when he intends to re-open these facilities.”

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