Horsham woman with MS calls for shopping centre toilets to be fully reopened after ‘disgusting’ experience

A Horsham woman who was disgusted by the state of the toilets in Horsham town centre is calling for the facilities to be fully reopened.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The women’s and men’s toilets in Swan Walk shopping centre have been shut during lockdown, leaving just four disabled cubicles open to everyone, said retiree Kathy Hunter.

The 66-year-old, who suffers from MS, said the lack of facilities is causing long queues and ‘quite disgusting’ toilets.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added: “I have used the disabled toilets a few times since the second lockdown and always find a queue of between six and 12 people waiting, people do not social distance as there are not really the correct signs and markers to guide them.

Swan Walk, Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2005052 PNL-200505-140922001Swan Walk, Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2005052 PNL-200505-140922001
Swan Walk, Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2005052 PNL-200505-140922001

“The toilets are, to be honest, quite disgusting – many times the toilet seat is wet.”

Kathy said the floors are also wet around the toilet pan and when she visited on November 19 the soap dispenser was broken, meaning she was unable to wash her hands properly. But she said she raised this with staff who pledged to sort the issue.

Kathy added: “The main toilets are more hygienic as no contact is required after washing/drying hands to exit [and] using the disabled toilets takes away the freedom for disabled people to access freely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The other issue is there is nowhere to hang hand coats or bags and who would want to put a handbag/shopping bag on a wet floor?”

She added that she finds it difficult to queue for 20 minutes due to her MS.

Kathy said: “As a walking person do not need a disabled toilet just a comfortable environment with the facilities normally provided.

“I know the government said that public toilets should stay open during the second lockdown so why would the centre think they are justified in closing them!”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added the amount of traffic in the centre warrants the main toilets to be open and said takeaway and click and collect customers have made the centre ‘very busy’.

A spokeswoman for Swan Walk confirmed that as throughout the last lockdown when all other facilities were closed, toilets for all continue to be available in the centre.

She said: “The government guidelines that all councils should open their public toilets this time was very much welcomed as Horsham District Council’s facilities in Piries Place and The Forum are also available to town centre customers during this lockdown.”