Councillors are looking into ways of opening town centre toilets for longer after concerns were raised they’re closing too early.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted The Voice after she had to dash to Sainsbury’s for her daughter to use the toilet as the public ones were closed shortly after 4pm on a weekday.
“People were waiting outside because they thought there was someone in there but, they had been locked from the outside,” she said. “A lady in a shop said go to the Sheep Market but they were locked, so we went to the bus station which were locked too.
“Thankfully my little one was able to hold it in until we got to Sainsbury’s.”
The issue was brought up at South Holland District Council last week by Coun Ingrid Sheard because those using the recently refurbished tennis courts at Ayscoughfee Garden had nowhere to go to the toilet after 4pm.
Council cabinet members agreed with her.
Coun Jack Tyrrell said he ‘understood’ why they were closed was because the staff maintaining them were starting work at 5.30am.
“The shops don’t shut until later so it would be nice to keep them open until at least 5.30pm.
Coun Henry Bingham said: “We’re currently looking at different models and ways of actually altering staffing or extending measures to try and allow them to be open for longer.
“I do agree they need to be open for longer to make the facility longer for the users.”
On the toilets at Ayscoughfee he said: “Hopefully it will reduce the level of anti-social behaviour there.
“It’s minimal and we keep an eye on it and have security locking the sites and CCTV on the premises, as well as having caught people in the past.
“We’re always looking to push the toilets forward and make them a better facility for all.”
