South Wales Evening Post - 12 April 2007
Swansea toilets have been panned in a new investigation today.The city takes second place in a UK league of shame over the standard of some of its loos.
Now the public has been warned to beware of "nasty germs" while they are out and about.
People caught short and having to use toilets outside their own home can be at risk, according to today's research.
It tested samples from 687 toilets across the UK everywhere from cinemas to bars and railway stations.
It found 39 per cent contained dangerous bacteria. They included E-coli as well as other bugs that can lead to skin and urine infections and diarrhoea.
Topping the league of shame was Blackpool, closely followed by Swansea, Liverpool, Southampton, Manchester, Coventry, Milton Keynes and Aberdeen. The toilets it looked at have not been identified. But only 46 per cent nationally were found to have satisfactory levels of hygiene. Half of loos tested in bars, restaurants, libraries, universities and train stations were below required standards.
Council-operated toilets were not looked at as part of the investigation.
Swansea's bar owners have defended standards in the city centre, however.
Myles Wellington, who owns BarCo in Wind Street, said: "Are they worse here than anywhere else?
"I have worked all over the country and I don't think Swansea's loos are any worse.
"Obviously, it varies from venue to venue - if you have a yobby clientele you are more likely to have vandalised and dirty toilets.''
Simon Griffiths, general manager at Idols bar in Wind Street, said he thought the findings were grossly unfair.
"It betrays the reality of the hard work and effort that licensees put in and the extra length they go to in ensuring that their toilets are spot on," he added.
But the city has not always been flushed by criticism. At one stage a number of Swansea's council-run public toilets were given sparkling honours in the annual Loo of the Year awards.
The Quadrant Bus Station, Osytermouth and Rhossili toilets all gained four stars following unannounced inspections by judges.
A microbiologist at Halo Wipes, which carried out the latest study, said: "People need to take simple precautions to prevent themselves from coming into contact with nasty germs when they are out and about. Hand washing is more important than ever when using public toilets, but in addition, using an antibacterial wipe on the seat before sitting down will not only reduce the risk of picking up any nasty germs from the seat but will greatly reduce the likelihood of passing them on.''
A council spokeswoman emphasised the survey related to toilets in private premises such as pubs and clubs and responsibility for these rested with the owners.
She added: " Swansea Council is proud of its own award winning public toilet provision. Awards we have won include 2006 Loo of the Year Awards for Caer Street, Oystermouth, Quadrant, and Rhossili. The unseasonably warm weather and school holidays are creating additional pressures on council facilities and we are adapting rotas to deal with the increased demand on those facilities.''
Want to report a problem at a public toilet? Call 01792 635600.
Post reporter David Rees checks out the toilets in Worchester Place Road, Swansea.
THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND . . .
12 April 2007
The Post has been out and about to put local loos to the test for itself.
The Halo probe did not include council-run toilets which have picked up awards for their cleanliness in the past. Ours did. This is what we found:
Bar SA1, Wind Street: There was graffiti scrawled over the back of the cubicle doors and there was a small amount of water on the floor and around the toilet. As well as the paint coming off the back of the door, there was no soap or hand-wash provided in any of the dispensers. No one available for comment.
Varsity, Wind Street: Very clean area apart from some mild graffiti on the doors.
General Manager Ann Marie Evans said: "We have immense pride in our pub and delivering exceptional standards service and cleanliness is our priority.''Yates's, Wind Street:
The cubicle doors were dirty and discoloured and they wouldn't all lock. Some of the basins were cracked but it was generally clean. No one available for comment.
And here is what we found elsewhere....
Quadrant Public Toilets: The smell was not pleasant and there was no attempt to improve it apart from open windows. There was toilet paper strewn over the floor, water on surfaces, and sticky and rotting rubbish had been left in a bin in dire need of a clean.
Worcester Place: Again, the smell wasn't pleasant and the only ventilation into the toilets came from the main door.
These public toilets had paint peeling off the walls, water across the floor, and toilet paper stuck to the walls. A bin was overflowing with rubbish.
Gorseinon Bus Station: There was not a nice smell in these toilets. The floor here was dirty, discoloured and damp and the rest of the interior of the toilets was not much better. There was a hole in the wall and the wooden toilet doors had graffiti etched into them.
Woodfield Street, Morriston: The graffiti drawn on the walls of these toilets was terrible. The mirror was dirty and had green paint smeared across it, and the Closed for Cleaning sign had been left in the entrance although the toilets were open to the public.
