A protest took place outside a toilet block in a North London park over the weekend due to the facilities being closed to the public for more than three years. The closure has caused “frustration and even anger” amongst residents, with some claiming they have had to stop visiting the park altogether.
A dozen local residents gathered in Roundwood Park in Brent on Saturday (August 2) to protest against the closure of the public toilets, which took place in 2022. The organiser, Amandine Alexandre, accused Brent Council of having “done nothing” to resolve the issue, despite numerous complaints from residents over the years.
The closure has meant some people have either cut down on the amount of time they spend in the park, or in some cases stopped coming at all, whilst others have resorted to relieving themselves in bushes. Protesters have said the lack of facilities is more than just an inconvenience but a “public health issue”.
Amandine said: “The lack of public toilets in Roundwood Park is affecting absolutely everyone – parents with children, disabled people, older people. It prevents lots of residents from using the park as much as they would like and it stops too many people from coming to the park altogether. It’s a public health issue, and yet we are being completely ignored by Brent Council.
“I had to take my young daughter for a wee in the bushes a few times while attending birthday parties in the park. I dislike it very much but she is at an age where I can’t expect her to hold on for a long time, nor should she because it could cause her some health issues if she did.”
One of those who attended the protest, retired Harlesden resident Frances Holloway, has completely stopped visiting the park as a direct result of the toilets being closed. She said: “On a sunny day or on any given day, it’s impossible for me to come and spend any time in the park. I know that after spending ten minutes there I will need to use the toilet and there aren’t any.”
Not just “hugely inconvenient”, the protesters have suggested that the lack of facilities is causing health and safety for all park goers – including dogs. Mo Buck claims to be aware of some dogs having eaten faeces and required veterinary treatment since the toilets have been closed.
Mo feels having public toilets in Roundwood “are an absolute requirement for a park of this size” and claims to have raised his concerns with Brent Council on numerous occasions, all of which have been in vain.
She said: “The café has one toilet for the use of their customers and they cannot be expected to be able to manage the influx of people who need a toilet facility. They are also not open for the same hours that the park is open, so it is not a viable alternative option and should not be expected to be so!”
Last year, the council approved plans to use £3m of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) money to deliver a “green corridor scheme” in Church End and Roundwood. Due to these planned improvements, Amandine believes “now is the time” to either reopen the existing public toilets or build new ones in a “better location in the park” where there will be a “reduced risk of antisocial behaviour”.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement, Cllr Krupa Sheth, said: “Keeping our award-winning parks clean, safe and accessible for all is my main priority, and I understand how important facilities like public toilets are to our residents. Unfortunately, years of cuts to local government funding have forced councils like ours to make incredibly difficult decisions, particularly where ongoing maintenance and concerns around safety are involved.
“While the former toilet block has been closed due to repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour, toilets remain available in the café for anyone enjoying the park. If you witness any anti-social behaviour, make sure to contact our community safety team so we can keep our green spaces safe for all.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
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