Ilkley toilet closure is 'a public health hazard'

Residents say the consequences of the public conveniences in Riverside Park remaining closed are creating a health hazard as people relieve themselves outside.

Liz Tennant, of Bridge Lane, Ilkley, said she witnesses up to ten people a day going to the toilet opposite her house.

"During the first lockdown when the toilets were closed and we had nice weather the area of grass to the right of these public conveniences turned into an outside public toilet,"she said. "This is now continuing with the more recent lockdown and the area is turning into a potential public health and environmental hazard.

"Our house is directly opposite and we can witness ten or more people a day turning the area into an outside public toilet. As a resident and daily user of the park I can also say that this area isn’t the only spot being used. If the toilets are to remain closed then something needs to be done to stop this situation becoming worse. This area is right next door to the garden of Bridge House and people cut through this area, children and dogs play and it’s basically an open sewer in this spot.

"These public toilets need to reopen as a matter of urgency and the area needs cleaning up."

People are going to the toilet outside as public toilets in Riverside Park remain closed

The toilets are managed by Ilkley Town Council who say they are aware of continuing problems at the Riverside Gardens toilet block. The block is currently closed as a result of vandalism which has irreparably damaged the hand washing units.

Ilkley Town Council said in a statement: "The block will reopen as soon as temporary arrangements can be made to ensure that appropriate hand sanitisation is in place.

"As a result of the forced closure, the Town Council has also become aware that members of the public have been using nearby areas in an unsanitary and inappropriate manner, and have taken steps to ensure that Bradford Council's cleaning teams attend to undertake a clean-up of the public land at this location, which is managed by Bradford.

"When Ilkley Town Council saved the toilet block in Riverside Gardens from closure by Bradford Council in 2019, it inherited a building in a very poor state of repair after years of neglect, and it was immediately necessary to undertake a complete roof replacement and the removal of asbestos to ensure that the toilets remained accessible for public use. This resulted in expenditure in the order of £15,000 by the Council. Deep cleaning, basic internal repairs and an overhaul of the cleaning schedule were also necessary. Since then, a working group has been developing plans for the total refurbishment of the block to bring it to modern accessible standards. Following a site visit by our preferred contractor on Thursday March 5th, the Town Council has convened an Extraordinary Meeting for Friday 12th March to consider the proposed costed plans.

Residents of Bridge Lane have called for the Riverside toilets in Ilkley to reopen after reporting people using bushes to relieve themselves

"Complete refurbishment will be a major budgetary commitment for the Council at over £100,000, but it is expected that this will create top class facilities of the quality that residents and visitors to Ilkley would expect. This will augment the ongoing improvements in the riverside areas area that are being generated by Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks, the Ilkley Clean River Group and other partners. The Council will also consider how it can maintain some temporary facilities during any refurbishment, if this is necessary."

Ilkley Town Mayor Councillor Mark Stidworthy added: "The Town Council is grateful for the leadership of the Chair of the Toilet Working Group Councillor Mike Gibbons, and our Town Clerk Louise Close, in accelerating our plans for the redevelopment of the Riverside Gardens toilets. We hope that we will soon be able to deliver new toilets here that reflect the importance placed by locals and visitors alike on high quality public facilities."