Disgusted Londoners fed up of people 'weeing on walls' in area with 'fewest public toilets'

Hackney residents have called for more public toilets to be installed by the council to stop people 'weeing on walls'. The appeal comes as the borough is reported to have the fewest public loos available in the city, according to Age UK.

London Loos, a campaign started by the charity, looks to improve public toilet availability across the capital. The scheme hopes to establish more community toilet schemes in London as well as highlight that councils are not currently legally obliged to provide public loos.

The charity has claimed Hackney is the borough with the fewest public toilets available, using data from a map run by Public Convenience that shows such facilities across the UK. Information for the map is provided by the public, as well as from requests to councils, private companies and organisations.

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Anthony Wineman, Hackney Central, Hackney, London, UK
Anthony Wineman said he often sees individuals 'weeing on walls' -Credit:Joe Coughlan

There are currently 17 public toilets listed as being available in Hackney borough, according to both the Public Convenience map and the council website. Karen Coulthard, 72, has lived in Hackney borough most of her life and said locals appear to have become used to using nearby coffee shops and cinemas instead of public loos.

She told MyLondon: "I know from when I've been with friends or visitors and they have expected to find facilities and I suppose I've never really expected it, but they have… I suppose I'm not conscious of it because we've never had it."

A study conducted by Age UK in 2022 found that over half of London’s elderly reduced the amount of liquids they drank before leaving home to reduce the risk of needing the toilet. Ms Coulthard said she and her peers were often mindful about drinking less water before they headed out. She added that one of her friends with health issues has found it difficult to find places where they can be guaranteed a toilet will be available.

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Ms Coulthard said: "If people are feeling inhibited about going out, that's terrible. I think what I feel about being in this borough is that a lot goes to making it attractive in a sort of trendy way… I would imagine there are an awful lot of older people and I don't think they have such a priority in terms of what the borough wishes to do in order to regenerate the borough."

Hackney Central, Hackney, London, UK
The authority has said there are five public toilet blocks available in Hackney Central alongside three more in nearby parks -Credit:Joe Coughlan

Anthony Wineman, 58, lives on a boat on the River Lea, but often visits Hackney Central to see his GP. He said he also relies on subtly using the toilets of fast food restaurants and pubs in the hope that he won’t be asked to buy an item.

He told MyLondon: "During wintertime, I won't drink beer and I'll cut down on my liquids. I won't have a cup of tea before coming out, I have a weak bladder as it is. Fast food restaurants are saints, or the pub if you ask nicely at the bar. These days you can't afford a beer, I've always found if I ask them nicely they don’t mind."

Mr Wineman said he would like to see portable toilets being set up in town centres across Hackney in the evenings, claiming he has seen a similar scheme carried out in central London. He added he thinks it would discourage punters from urinating in public places around the borough’s town centres. A Hackney Council spokesperson told MyLondon that the authority currently provides additional pop-up toilet facilities in nightlife hotspots.

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He said: "At night-time you get people that are a bit wary of going into these places where I’ve just mentioned. They sort of cheekily wee up against a wall which is not great. But if there was something where it just pops up out of the ground, it would be great. For the ladies, it’s a bit different."

He added: “People don't want to be put out. They don’t want to have the embarrassment of going up to a barman and saying, ‘Can I use your toilet please?’."

Public toilets in Hackney Central, Hackney, London, UK
Age UK is pushing for a greater availability of public toilets in the capital -Credit:Joe Coughlan

Liz Southcombe, 72, has been a resident of the borough for over 40 years. She said she was unaware of the claim that Hackney had the fewest public toilets available, but she was not surprised.

She told MyLondon: "As you get older, your bladder is not quite as long lasting as it used to be, and particularly in the winter when it's cold. You tend to drink more hot tea and things and so you need to pee more."

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The local agreed that pubs were the most popular option for people needing the toilet while they were not at home. She said that she became more aware of suitable businesses to approach when she was out walking during Covid.

Ms Southcombe said: "It's not good, that's for sure. It's usually not too much of a problem because I'm quite prone to meeting friends in coffee bars so they have usually got access to loos. Friends who have got particular illnesses or something have worked out, because they need to, where you can get access to public loos."

A Hackney Council spokesperson told MyLondon that the authority welcomed Age UK for bringing attention to an important issue. They said the council will be updating the toilet map to reflect the full range of free-to-use public toilets in the borough.

They said: "We have been investing in increasing the number of public toilets in recent years, improving existing facilities, and ensuring that all are now completely free-to-use."

They added: "In Hackney Central alone, we provide five public toilet blocks in the town centre and a further three in nearby parks. Across the borough, we also provide public toilets in parks, libraries, town centres and public buildings, with additional pop-up facilities in nightlife hotspots."

The spokesperson said the authority has continued to expand and refurbish public facilities despite the current pressures on council finances. They added that residents can find an accurate and up-to-date map of Hackney Council-managed public toilets and libraries on its website.

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