Toilets and their users

IN Déjà vu, Jimmy Lockwood draws attention to the frequent problems with toilets on the canal system for its users, writes Mike Todd.

However, from my personal experience, many are well cared for on a daily basis by people who obviously take a proper pride in what they are doing, never the easiest or most delightful of tasks.

 

Out of action

Nevertheless, we often receive through the Waterscape messaging, notice that one or other of the toilets or disposal units is out of action. Almost always the cause is misuse, even abuse. Common is the fact that people have tried to dispose of items that are specifically barred from these units, which totally destroy the pump mechanisms.

At other times, as with many public toilets, the damage and thoughtless lack of cleanliness, is astounding. I would be amazed if people behaved like this in their own homes—in this case their own boats—so why ruin a community resource for others?

More vandal and idiot proof

Perhaps what is needed is for the manufacturers to devise even more vandal and idiot proof equipment, recognising that some of our canal users are clearly unable to read the most prominent of notices. If we know that people are going to do this then let's design the problem away.

On a more 'Grumpy of Cornwall' mode, perhaps each unit should have a lock and CCTV so that users can only be released once it has been assessed that they have not ill-used the facility!

Overall, I really do not think that the state of some units is something to lay immediately at the door of CaRT (who generally do a good job of cleaning and maintenance) but at those of the mindless perpetrators who ruin an important resource for the rest of society.