IT’S THE perennial problem of the pandemic … where do you spend a penny in a park?
With public toilets closed, along with many public buildings, during the various lockdowns, children – and grown-ups for that matter – needing to answer a call of nature have been stuck with bushes.
And in Palmer Park in east Reading, there is additional frustration in that a building that was originally meant to be used as a public toilet has been closed for years.
Park ward Green party councillors have had enough of crossing their legs and hoping for the best, and have launched a petition aimed at getting Reading Borough Council to bring back into use the loos that are currently being left to rot, adding that it is a heritage building.
In recent years, it has seen slates fall off, leaving beams exposed.
And Reading Borough Council has added protective fencing aimed at stopping people from climbing on to the roof or breaking in.
Cllr Brenda McGonigle said that toilet in the cafe and in the sports stadium were closed, leaving park users with no public facilities.
“We’re asking the Labour Council to please save, restore, and re-open the old Palmer Park toilet block. It is right by the much-used play area, and families need toilets,” she said.
“We think the three buildings in the park, including the Pavilion – now Tutu’s fantastic café – were designed by local architect William Ravenscroft, and are part of Reading’s heritage and should be preserved for the future.”
Nearly 150 people have signed the Green Party’s petition over the issue, and it will be presented to Reading Borough Council in due course.
A spokesperson for the council said the buildings had been closed for over 25 years and the age of the building meant that its scope for accessibility was “very limited”. Plans for the new swimming pool and sports centre, which will open late next year, will be fully accessible and have longer opening hours than a usual public convenience would have.
“We are not considering reopening this facility at this time, as it would be very expensive and require managing for the appropriate use,” they said.
“Instead we are focusing our limited budgets on reopening public toilet facilities across the borough closed during the pandemic and which do not have alternative conveniences nearby, unlike Palmer Park.”
The spokesperson said that while they recognise the importance of providing public toilets, the council had to remove charging mechanisms as they were prone to vandalism and made them less accessible.
“The Council is in the process of reviewing future options on the old Palmer Park toilet block,” they continued.
“The Palmer Park Pavilion and the associated buildings are also currently following the Local Listing consultation process, which will complete in early November.
“The decision on whether to list these buildings will be made by Planning Applications Committee – at the earliest date in December.”
The petition can be seen at www.bit.ly/palmertoilet
