News from the British Toilet Association last week cites the results of its nationwide survey, which reveals that 92% of the British public wants the Government to increase funding for public toilets. I must say I’m surprised it’s only 92%, but then perhaps the other 8% don’t realise just how good things can be? I grew up in an era where people were never far away from a clean public facility that had toilet paper and hot running water, along with bar soap and roller towels. Yes, we were expected to pay 1p to access a cubicle, (although there was always one that didn’t have a coin slot and thus was accessible to everyone – I suppose for the very poor or those who’d already spent their penny elsewhere). But note here that the 1p was to access a cubicle, which meant that anyone could wash and dry their hands whilst out and about. Thus I grew up with certain expectations, which stopped being met a long time ago.

Back then, I wasn’t aware of the detrimental effect a lack of public toilets has on just about everything. It’s not just the hygiene issues either, with people unable to wash their hands, and the desperate forced to urinate in an alley or bush, or squat somewhere and rush before they’re discovered and thus leave a horrible mess behind them, but the effect on people’s lifestyles and the local economies too. I’ve learned that people are reluctant to go out to places where they know there aren’t going to be toilet facilities. If they live alone and they’re not going out, they may become isolated. If people aren’t going out, they’re not spending money either. The BTA has the figures to back this up. Why then, aren’t our local authorities being forced to make improvements?

Last Wednesday, on World Toilet Day, the World Health Organisation released figures revealing that 3.4 billion people still live without a safe toilet, and that each year, 1.4 million people die due to inadequate access to water, sanitation & hygiene. We really should do better, shouldn’t we?

My picture shows that those who put on festivals and similar events – and I’m not just talking UK here, manage to provide toilets that are often only installed for the period of the event. They offer safety and privacy. What goes into them is eventually used to fertilise the land. We know to take our own toilet tissue, a bottle of water and a hand sanitiser as there’s a good chance that what was provided, will have run out. A quick and simple solution to a global problem, in my view…