As readers will remember, six Isle of Wight toilets are earmarked for refurbishment over the coming months.
One of those included in the list is that at Marlborough Road in Ventnor, the last remaining toilet in town since the Isle of Wight council closed all others.
Don’t get caught short
One of our On The Wight readers got in touch with us this week, concerned that whilst the Marlborough Road toilets are closed for refurbishment, any shoppers or visitors to the town will have to tackle the steep cascade to make use of the toilets on the esplanade. Quite a walk if you’ve been caught short, have mobility problems or are very young.
She told us, “I suffer from IBS, so I do have an axe to grind. I am 65 and have had to be aware of toilet facilities all my life so I have learned to adapt. I just feel sorry for the elderly and the young. Is it not a disgrace that the Isle of Wight Council have so little regard for basic human requirements?”
Cllr Welsford fighting
We understand that Chris Welsford, councillor for the ward, has been trying for the last two weeks to get the council to agree to reopen the closed Market Street toilets.
He tells us that the petition signed by more than 300 Ventnor residents earlier this year and handed to the IWC by Ventnor Mayor Steve Stubbings and himself has not even been acknowledged by the Cabinet member responsible.
The reader who got in touch with us said that Cllr Scoccia, responsible for Ventnor West, had also tried to get Market Street toilets reopened.
Costs would not be justified
Cllr Scoccia however, clarified to On The Wight, ” I did not try and get them reopened, I only asked if it was a possibility.”
She went on to say, “I was told that as the redecoration, etc. will be done as quickly as possible, the reopening of Market Street and all the required reconnection, cleaning, health and safety requirements to be satisfied, etc. would not be justified and IWC will ensure that clear signage will be in place.”
We’ve been waiting for dates from the council of when the work will start since the beginning of the week and will update this article once we hear back from them.
We’ll also let you know whether the Isle of Wight council will consider the public health issue of not having any public toilets in the town centre during the refurbishment works.
