Anger over lock out at public toilet

Sep 12 2002 By Helen Harper, Caernarfon And Denbigh Herald

RESIDENTS and visitors to Caernarfon last week were angry that public toilets at Parc Coed Helen were closed.

On Tuesday, August 27, Caernarfon Town Bowling Club hosted the Gwynedd Senior Citizens' Doubles Championships at Parc Coed Helen, on the outskirts of the town.

However, for the last month the public toilets have been kept locked while maintenance work was carried out, forcing bowlers, children and their parents who use the play area, to walk or drive the distance into the town.

Roger Dickinson, who had travelled to the town for the competition from Deganwy, said: "One lady, in her 80s, who had travelled from Llandudno to support bowling friends managed to walk to the Castle toilets, but was unable to make the journey back.

"She had to find a taxi cab at a cost of £2.80 - all to spend a penny. Shame on Gwynedd Council, who knew about the event, but declined to open the park toilets, or even supply a mobile loo."

For the last month, members of the club have had to make do without toilet facilities, as have the parents and children who use the play area at Parc Coed Helen.

Club member Basil Thomas said: "Elderly people were there, and it's a shame that the council treats us like this and closes the toilets. There were more than 100 people there, and they were still locked and have been locked over the summer season.

"We have only got another four weeks of the bowling season, until the end of September when the bowling green is closed. Even then, the park is open all year round."

Dick Morris, secretary of the club, added: "Last summer they closed the toilets during the summer holidays, and now they are refurbishing them in the summer holidays. Why didn't they put a portaloo there? People at the competition were very put out, it's absolutely ridiculous.

"There are toilets in the changing rooms, and outside, and they are both being refurbished at the same time. You could understand if they did one and then the other, but both at the same time, in the school holidays, is ridiculous."

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council said: "As a result of the vandalism in the two toilets at Parc Coed Helen, they had to be repaired. The vandalism meant that new toilet parts and basins had to be fitted, and the toilets had to re-decorated.

"Unfortunately, the work went on for a fortnight longer than anticipated, as the workers had to wait for the new parts."