Villagers toil to get the toilets re-opened

Feb 5 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

VILLAGERS are kicking up a stink after their only public toilets were closed down. People in Belford, Northumberland, are angry that Berwick Borough Council took the decision to board up the toilets on The Neuk in December.

They say the closure will leave themselves and tourists having to cross their legs while visiting the village centre – or relieving themselves in public.

Businesswoman Nell Atkin, owner of the Belford Craft Gallery on Market Place – just around the corner from the closed toilets, set up a petition against the loss of the facilities which 193 people signed so far.

The 47-year-old, who lives at nearby Middleton, started collecting signatures after people began turning up at the gallery asking to use its one toilet, which meant them passing through her stock room. One day, a 25-strong walking party turned up at the gallery asking to use her facilities, and she refused.

She said: “The problem is that people turn off the A1, there are three long-distance walks which go through Belford, two long distance cycle routes go through Belford. People from the village come into the village and need somewhere to use.

“It is not really fair to expect the local pubs and shops to open their toilets to people. During the summer, I do not know what we are going to do.

“People are finding a convenient wall. It is a public health problem.”