A public toilet in Richmond town centre has reopened – but the single lavatory is only open for six hours a day.

The toilet by Richmond Reference Library is specifically for disabled people and baby changing.

A new 'Stop the spread, wash your hands' plaque has been installed above the sink.

Richmond Nub News visited the area yesterday (Friday, August 21) and it was the only toilet that was open – the former men's and women's toilets on either side of the library steps have been shut for years.

This followed a press release from Richmond Council which indicated that multiple toilets had been reopened. It read:

'Old Town Hall loos now open!'

The public toilets at the Old Town Hall in Richmond have reopened following their temporary closure due to Covid-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, the toilets on Whittaker Avenue have been closed. Over the past few weeks, the facilities have been deep cleaned and are now able to be opened to the public.

Whilst signage and information is on display at the facility, users are reminded to take responsibility for their own safety whilst using them – washing their hands, keeping their distance from others.

The toilets are open Monday to Friday from 10am – 4pm and will be shortly open on Saturdays when the Reference Library opening hours are extended.

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts is chair of the council's Environment and Sustainability Committee.

She said: "Ensuring we provide a welcoming environment for shoppers is fundamental to rebuilding the High Street and we recognise the role that clean and accessible public toilets have to play.

"Therefore, we're delighted to offer this additional toilet facility to visitors and shoppers which will complement the existing facilities in cafes, pubs, shops and, of course, at Richmond Railway Station."

Earn money by opening up your toilets

The availability of toilets has been a hot topic in Richmond.

The only other 'traditional' public toilets in the town centre are inside the railway station. Visitors can also spend a penny in any shop or pub signed up to the council's Community Toilet Scheme.

Businesses are paid up to £1,200 a year to participate by opening their toilets up to non-paying customers. You can see if a shop has registered to provide its toilets to the public because there will be a sticker in the window.

Earlier this summer a bumper payment of £350 was offered to businesses to make their toilets public as Richmond recovered from the Covid-19 lockdown.

Complaints about a shortage of toilets

Residents of Richmond Green have raised public urination and even defecation as a problem on their doorsteps.

It was brought up by the Conservative group on Richmond Council last week who called for an emergency meeting into the matter.

Cllr Geoffrey Samuel (Hampton North) suggested portalloos could provide an immediate answer.

"Conservative Councillors believe it is time to put a stop to this situation and are standing up for local people who have been coping with an appalling situation," he said.

"If the council leadership will not act, then the council itself must instruct them to bring in portaloos. We need action now.

"My initiative - supported by all Conservative councillors – is designed to ensure that the council meets in the next few days so that portaloos are in place well before Bank Holiday".

A council spokesperson replied, saying: "For the first time in over a decade the council is seriously looking into the provision of permanent toilet facilities in both Richmond town centre and Twickenham Green to complement the existing public toilet provision provided at Richmond Railway Station, in some shops and through the Community Toilet Scheme."

Lack of 24-hour facilities

One of the problems appears to be that public toilets in shops are only available as long as the store remains open.

Gatherings on the Green have continued past midnight and, at this time, only the station toilets are open.

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