Saturday, December 10, 2016

50p charge for toilets at Victoria ending



Problem
Two UK stations used to charge 50 p for toilets. (I recall seeing charges at Euston and Victoria.)
A family of five will not want to pay £2.50 to use the toilets once each. Even if you are willing to pay, you might not have the change and time to find somebody to give you change.

Answer
You used to have to use either Wetherspoons or McDonalds at Victoria. (Or pay or wait, or wait until you were on a train.) The charges are being withdrawn after complaints by the public.

This is good news.

Story
It was a real nuisance last time I was there. First a delay finding an alternative toilet. Delayed my arrival at an event. I was then annoyed with a coffee bar which had no toilet and wanted name to use the public paid for toilets.

Tip
Always go before you leave home, whether you need to or not. Same goes when travelling, any time you see a convenient and clean free toilet, use it.

Action
Ensure that pubs and stations have free toilets. Don't let councils shut toilets. Otherwise people are more likely to go on stairwells of car parks.

In Singapore they had problems with people going to the toilet in lifts (US elevators) in public buildings. Cameras were installed in lifts. Do what Singapore does, have the toilets on stations facing the ticket office so the toilet entrance is under observation.

Go before you need it. When?

Where Can You Find Toilets?
Railway stations.
Coach stations.
Larger Coffee Shops.
Pubs.
Restaurants.
Hotels.
Long distance coaches.
Long distance
Airport lounges.
Department stores.
Libraries.
Colleges.
Museums and art galleries.

On arriving in a foreign country, keep small coins in case you need them either to gain entry to a toilet or as a tip to the attendant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4019380/Axed-50p-fee-spend-penny-stations-Network-Rail-ditches-toilet-charge-raking-37-5million-UK-stations.html

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.


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