Resident's concern over lack of public toilets in Horsham

Wendy Morriss, from Warnham, visited the town yesterday afternoon and tried to use the toilets in Piries Place.

The 70-year-old said the loos were shut and had been boarded up so no-one could use them.

She said: “The toilets were just shut up. They don’t even bother to put up an explanation on the shutters.

“I couldn’t walk back to Swan Walk because my parking was running out. I had to go home to Warnham.

“It is treating the public like dirt really.”

Horsham District Council is responsible for public toilet facilities in the town centre.

A spokesman for the council said due to the recent sale of Piries Place to two property firms the management of toilets in the area had changed hands and it was closed on Thursday due to a ‘misunderstanding’.

The spokesman said: “Due to a misunderstanding in the transfer of responsibilities, the toilets were not opened on Thursday May 12. As of this morning (Friday May 13 ) they have now been re-opened and are operating as normal. The council apologises for any inconvenience caused.

“Additional public toilets in Horsham centre are also available in Swan Walk Shopping Centre, the Forum Car Park, the Capitol and the Pavilions in the Park leisure centre.”

But Mrs Morriss said she didn’t feel there were enough public toilet facilities in Horsham town centre in general.

She said she had just come back from Wales where there were toilets everywhere.

“It is a problem, especially as the town is growing,” She said.

According to figures by Horsham Blueprint, the forum responsible for creating the Horsham’s neighbourhood plan, residents seem to agree.

The forum conducted a survey at an exhibition held in Swan Walk shopping centre last month with just under 70 per cent of people saying there were not enough toilet facilities in the town.

What do you think? Comment below or email the newsdesk at [email protected].

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