Goodbye Jubilee Road toilets: demolition gets underway after long campaign to save them

THE demolition of public toilets close to a busy Poole shopping street has ended a lengthy campaign to retain them.

Residents, businesses and shoppers were desperate to keep the Jubilee Road loos, which Borough of Poole had earmarked for closure, however a 2,000 strong petition from the Ashley Road Traders Association failed to save them.

The block had been subject to vandalism and incidents of anti-social behaviour and was closed in February 2014. It would cost 15,000 to re-open with annual running costs of nearly 14,000, said the council.

However traders, who fear the effect on their businesses, sought to have them made a community asset while they investigated taking them over and running them. But the cost and legal responsibilities made this unfeasible.

I am sad that the council has put money to one side to demolish the building, said Mike Ockenden, chairman of Ashley Road Traders. That money could have been used to refurbish the building and re-open it.

He said the council had promised six community toilets for people to use at businesses along lengthy Ashley Road but there were only three. One was at a caf which closed mid-afternoon, another at a pub and the third at Waitrose.

Traders are saying shoppers are telling them they wont shop in the street because of the lack of toilets, he said. And finding the toilets closed some desperate people were finding secluded places nearby to relieve themselves, he added.

Cllr Phil Eades, who represents Branksome West, called it: A sad day for community facilities in Upper Parkstone.

He said: The council has pressed on with the demolition of these much-needed local facilities despite there not being an adequate alternative plan in place.

The council said it was working to increase the number of businesses taking part in the community toilet scheme.

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Goodbye Jubilee Road toilets: demolition gets underway after long campaign to save them