Concern as men 'forced to use women's public loo'

The temporary closure of the men's public toilet in a Jersey park is causing men to use the women's facilities and creating difficulties for men with disabilities, people have told the BBC.

The men's loo, next to a playground in Parade Gardens, St Helier, has been closed for a number of weeks "due to a maintenance issue".

The owner of the adjoining cafe said people had been giving him "a bit of grief" about the situation, while a disability campaigner said the closure was "far, far, far from ideal" and alternative solutions should be sought.

The Parish of St Helier, which is responsible for the toilets, said it was working to resolve the issue "as quickly as possible".

David Walsh, whose cafe is attached to the toilet block, said some men had been forced to take their children into the women's facilities.

"We've had a few disgruntled fathers, mainly, because they have used the ladies toilets with their children," said Walsh.

"Sometimes people look down at a man walking out of the ladies' toilets with a little child, saying, 'you shouldn't be in there'."

He said the situation had been affecting his work.

"It takes us out of our flow during business. They look at me and say it's my fault and they give me a bit of grief, and it's nothing to do with me at the end of the day. I just run the kiosk, I don't run the toilets."

The cafe and toilet block are positioned between a children's playground and a disabled parking bay.

"It's (the toilet block) a facility that would be in quite high demand for disabled people and able-bodied people and people with children," said Jim Hopley, the honorary chairman of the Jersey Disability Partnership.

After spending time in the area, he said he had noticed "a couple of people" attempt to enter the men's toilet, before turning away "in frustration".

He said: "A wheelchair won't fit into a normal loo, so if you leave here and go off to another destination, Sand Street being a classic, you need a pass key to get into the disabled toilet there."

Michelle Vibert, who has two young children and was using the playground, said: "Having a toddler, they need the toilet quite frequently.

"It's not great, because if you've got youngsters and they need changing or they have an accident, there's not really anywhere to get them changed," she said.

Asked how she felt about men using the women's facilities, she said: "It's a bit of a sticky situation.

"I think having little ones, it's just not great from a child protection point of view.

"They should be kept separate."

Ian Hornby, who was taking his grandchild to the playground, said the closure of the men's toilet was "a bit inconvenient".

"I think it should be open or repaired a lot more," he said.

"There's so many people in this play area, men and women.

"I think they should be prioritised."

The Parish of St Helier said: "The male toilet has been closed at Parade Gardens for a number of weeks due to a maintenance issue with the lock.

"We have been trying to secure a suitable replacement, but have been facing some issues with supply."

The parish reiterated the female toilet, which included disabled facilities, remained open.

"We are doing our best to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused," it said.

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