Mayor tires of wait for toilets

A lack of toilets at popular tourist spot Baldwin Street has caused issues in the Northeast Valley area for some time, as tourists turn up in busloads. Photo: ODT

Political pressure has come into play in the Baldwin St toilet  issue, with staff being told by Mayor Dave Cull to get the matter resolved "and fast".

Dave Cull.

The lack of public toilets at the world’s steepest street,  which attracts thousands of tourists, particularly during cruise ship season, has become increasingly frustrating for residents and local businesses.

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For more than three years they have  had  constant requests from cruise ship passengers, tourists and visitors to use their toilets, a norovirus scare and plans for toilets that have never come to fruition.

That intensified recently when the council promised temporary toilets by Labour Day weekend, but they  never arrived.

Yesterday Mr Cull said: "It’s gone on for too long."

"Several of us, including some of the senior management team, have expressed their frustration at how long it’s taking.

"We have registered our expectation something will happen sooner rather than later."

Mr Cull said that had happened in the last couple of days.

He said the message to staff to resolve the issue was not an official communication from the council but had been passed on through chief executive Sue Bidrose and senior management.

The council had been told in the past the issue would be resolved but that had not happened.

"It hasn’t been, and on the face of it, it doesn’t look like it is being done, so I’ve asked it be progressed, and fast."

Mr Cull said public toilets were "problematic".

Infrastructure services chairwoman Kate Wilson  expressed her frustration this week.

"I think you’ll find it’s one of those we all want a solution to, or at least have the options paper to council, and we haven’t had it brought back to us."

Cr Wilson said her preference would be to work with local businesses to provide facilities.

Providing toilets was "invariably good for business" as it attracted custom.

Cr Doug Hall said the issue "seems to go round and round in circles".

"We seem to get mixed messages all the time."

He planned to  bring the matter up at the next council meeting.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz