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28 Feb 08New Toilets Open In Branksome
Work on new public toilets at Poole Road, Branksome is now complete and ready for use.
The toilets, near the Redlands Retail Park, are the latest to be rebuilt as part of a large investment in a refurbishment programme of public conveniences across the Borough. New facilities have already opened in the last year in the town centre and at the viewpoint in Upper Parkstone.
The new toilets are all in areas where previous older buildings had attracted anti-social behaviour, which led to higher maintenance costs and public concern about using them. Open 24 hours a day, the new toilets have direct access doors to the street and feature improved family and disabled facilities, which has included an extensive rebuilding of the access ramp.
Cllr Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole, said: "The new toilets in Poole Road will provide a vastly improved and environmentally-friendly facility for residents, including disabled users, and reduce the need for costly repairs and preventative measures against vandalism. In 2002, vandalism and overnight sleeping meant the number of public toilets open 24 hours a day in Poole were reduced to two. This new toilet will take the number of public toilets open 24 hours a day up to six."
The new Poole Road toilets will include:
- Family-friendly facilities for men and women including baby changing areas
- Improved disabled facilities, including the latest Disability Discrimination Act compliant facilities: emergency contact switches and different coloured and textured equipment compliant facilities.
- Free access for disabled users utilising the national RADAR key
- Sensored taps and hand dryers.
- Efficient use of electricity and water.
The new toilets also feature an anti-vandal design to prevent anti-social behaviour, including vandal-resistant fittings with no exposed pipework or cabling.
David Rickards, Principal Officer in Environmental and Consumer Protection Services, said: "The new access ramp and toilets have enabled us to continue promoting equality of opportunity for disabled people in public buildings. Early results from the new design of public toilets are showing significant reductions in electricity and water usage, along with much reduced instances of vandalism despite the increased opening hours."
Directgov