Bedford Street toilets to be fully opened following new measures to keep the public safe
Published: Friday, 12 October, 2018
Public toilets in Bedford Street, Stroud will all be re-opened next week following a range of safety measures being installed.
The toilets were closed temporarily in July after cleaners discovered needles and drugs paraphernalia there on several occasions. The council would not compromise the safety of the public or cleaning staff, so took the decision to close the facility temporarily. Two cubicles were re-opened in August, followed by the disabled toilet.
Officers from SDC attended a multi-agency meeting to discuss the wider issue of anti-social behaviour in Stroud, of which drugs use in public toilets was one example.
Since then a number of initiatives have been implemented including installing a sharps bin for the safe disposal of needles on the outside wall of one of the toilets, closer monitoring of CCTV in Bedford Street and increased patrols in the area by the Police, PSCOs and SDC’s Neighbourhood Wardens.
Joanne Jordan, Stroud District Council’s Acting Head of Paid Service said:
“The closure of the toilets was always a temporary measure while we assessed how best to keep the public and cleaners safe. We recognise that they are an important part of the viability of the town centre economy, and with Christmas coming up it’s even more important that they are fully open.”
The nine toilets will be fully opened from Monday 15 October.