The adequacy and public perception of the public toilet provision on Guernsey

Patricia Mary McDermott; George Kernohan

The adequacy and public perception of the public toilet provision on Guernsey

Patricia Mary McDermott, George Kernohan

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Abstract

In recent years there has been a decline in the state ofpublic toilets and, with over 50% of the public toiletsbeing closed, this has become a cause for public concern.Local authorities have no legal requirement to providepublic toilets and because of this some towns have nopublic toilet provision. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the adequacy and provision of the publictoilets on the Island of Guernsey. This investigation wasundertaken through observation of the 30 public toiletblocks and a questionnaire exploring the provision of thepublic toilets, emailed to a representative sample of theIsland population. All 18 of the toilets for those withdisabilities, 26 (out of 30) of the male and 27 (out of 30)of the female public toilets were observed and theresponse rate to the questionnaire was 48% (n=264).Results confirmed that there are an adequate number ofpublic toilet facilities for the Island’s population inaccordance with the British Standards. Fifty-five per centof respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with thenumber of facilities. However concerns were expressedabout the number of the public toilet that were closedduring the winter months and the proposed closure oftoilets in an effort to save money. The researchconcluded that the adequacy, provision and impressionof the public toilets on Guernsey was good, but moreattention needs to be given to year-round availabilityand the additional facilities required within them.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	59-67
Journal	Journal of Environmental Health Research
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 1 Mar 2012

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Blackman T, Mitchell L, Burton E, Jenks M, Parsons
M, Raman S and Williams K (2003). ‘The accessibility
of public spaces for people with dementia: a new priority
for the ‘open city’, Disability & Society, 18 (3),pp.357-
371.
Booth C, Darke J and Yeandle S (1996) Changing
Places: Women’s Lives in the City, London: Paul
Chapman.
Bournemouth Borough Council (2005). Bournemouth
Seafront Public Toilet Satisfaction Survey. Bournemouth:
Bournemouth Borough Council. Available from:
http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/textonly/Visitors/Seafr
ont/Seafront_Toilets.asp (Accessed 5th August 2010).
Brawley EC (1997). Designing for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Strategies for creating better care environments, New
York: Wiley.
British Toilet Association (2000). Public toilets in
England and Wales: Statistics from Audit Commission.
Winchester: British Toilet Association.
British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 1;
Code of practice for the design of sanitary facilities and
scales of provision of sanitary and associated appliances,
London: British Standards Institution.
British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 2;
Code of practice for space requirements for sanitary
appliances. London: British Standards Institution.
British Standards Institution (2010). BS6465 Part 4
DRAFT; Code of practice for the provision of public
toilets, London: British Standards Institution.
Cavanagh S and Ware V (1991). At Women’s
Convenience: A handbook on the design of Women’s
Public Toilets, London: Women’s Design Service.
Central Cities Institute (2002). Licensing Reform
London, University of Westminster, Central Cities
Institute.
Department for Communities and Local
Government (2008). Communities and Local
Government. The provision of public toilets, Twelfth
report of session 2007-2008. Report, together with
formal minutes, oral and written evidence. House of
Commons, London: The Stationery Office Ltd.
Disability Discrimination Act (1995). Disability
Discrimination Act 1995, London: Her Majesty's
Stationery Office.
Edwards J (1998). Policy making as organised
irresponsibility: the case of public conveniences, Policy
and Politics, 26 (3), pp.307-320
Environmental Protection Act (1990). Part II Waste on
Land, London, HMSO
Gillham B (2002). Real World Research Developing a
questionnaire, London: Continuum.
Greed C and Daniels I (2002). User and provider
perspectives on public toilet provision. Report of Nuffield
Trust Research, Occasional Paper, Faculty of the Built
Environment. Bristol: University of the West of England.
Greed C (2004). Public Toilets: The need to provide
compulsory provision. Municipal Engineer Proceedings of
the Institute of Civil Engineers, 157(Issue ME), pp.77-85.
Greed C (2005). Taking Stock: An overview of toilet
provision and standards, Bristol: University of the West of
England, Available from: http://kb.keepbritaintidy.org/
toilets/publications/stock.pdf (Accessed 27th July 2010).
Greshenson O and Penner B (2009). Ladies and Gents
Public Toilets and Gender, Philadelphia: Temple
University Press.
Hanson J, Begg N and Greed C (2007). The Accessible
Public Toilet Resource Manual, London: University
College London.
Heinze J E (1985). Bar soap and liquid soap. Journal of
the American Medical Association, 253 (11), p.1561.
Heinze J E and Yackovich F (1988). Washing with
contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria.
Epidemiology & Infection, 101 (2), pp.135-42.
Kabara J J and Brady M B (1984). Contamination of
bar soaps under "in use" condition. Journal of
Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology, 5
(4), pp.1-14.
Lanoë N (2002). Ogier’s reading research: How to make
research more approachable (3rd edition), London:
Baillière Tindall.
Lockwood J (2001). The lockwood Survey: capturing,
catering and caring for consumers, Huddersfield: Urban
Management Initiatives.
Miyanishi Y (1996). Comfortable public toilets: design and
maintenance manual, Toyama: City Planning Department.
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2004). Access
and facilities for disabled people: Approved Document
M, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Oxford City Council (2009). Your Views on Public Toilets
in Oxford. Oxford: Oxford City Council Consultations,
Available from: http://consultation.oxford.gov.uk/
consult.ti/publictoilets/consultationHome (Accessed 5th
August 2010) (Internet).
Polit D and Beck CT (2008). Nursing Research:
Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice
(8th edition), London: Lippincott.
Public Health Act (1936). (1 Edw. VII, C.87), London:
HMSO.
Restroom Association (Singapore) (2006). A guide to
better public toilet design and maintenance, Singapore:
Restroom Association, Available from: www.toilet.org.sg
(Accessed 28th July 2010).
Salkind N J (2007). Statistics for people who (think they)
hate statistics (2nd edition), London: Sage.
Sex Discrimination Act (2008). The Sex Discrimination
Act 1975, Amendment Regulations 2008, London: Her
Majesty's Stationery Office.
States of Guernsey (2010). Guernsey Facts and Figures
2010, St Peter Port: Policy Council.
Thomas S A (2000). How to write health sciences
papers, dissertations and theses, London: Churchill
Livingstone.

Keywords

Public Toilets
WC
Lavatory
Antisocial
behaviour
Disabled Toilets

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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McDermott 2012Final published version, 321 KB

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Cite this

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title = "The adequacy and public perception of the public toilet provision on Guernsey",

abstract = "In recent years there has been a decline in the state ofpublic toilets and, with over 50% of the public toiletsbeing closed, this has become a cause for public concern.Local authorities have no legal requirement to providepublic toilets and because of this some towns have nopublic toilet provision. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the adequacy and provision of the publictoilets on the Island of Guernsey. This investigation wasundertaken through observation of the 30 public toiletblocks and a questionnaire exploring the provision of thepublic toilets, emailed to a representative sample of theIsland population. All 18 of the toilets for those withdisabilities, 26 (out of 30) of the male and 27 (out of 30)of the female public toilets were observed and theresponse rate to the questionnaire was 48% (n=264).Results confirmed that there are an adequate number ofpublic toilet facilities for the Island{\textquoteright}s population inaccordance with the British Standards. Fifty-five per centof respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with thenumber of facilities. However concerns were expressedabout the number of the public toilet that were closedduring the winter months and the proposed closure oftoilets in an effort to save money. The researchconcluded that the adequacy, provision and impressionof the public toilets on Guernsey was good, but moreattention needs to be given to year-round availabilityand the additional facilities required within them.",

keywords = "Public Toilets, WC, Lavatory, Antisocial, behaviour, Disabled Toilets",

author = "McDermott, {Patricia Mary} and George Kernohan",

note = "Reference text: Blackman T, Mitchell L, Burton E, Jenks M, Parsons M, Raman S and Williams K (2003). {\textquoteleft}The accessibility of public spaces for people with dementia: a new priority for the {\textquoteleft}open city{\textquoteright}, Disability & Society, 18 (3),pp.357- 371. Booth C, Darke J and Yeandle S (1996) Changing Places: Women{\textquoteright}s Lives in the City, London: Paul Chapman. Bournemouth Borough Council (2005). Bournemouth Seafront Public Toilet Satisfaction Survey. Bournemouth: Bournemouth Borough Council. Available from: http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/textonly/Visitors/Seafr ont/Seafront_Toilets.asp (Accessed 5th August 2010). Brawley EC (1997). Designing for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease. Strategies for creating better care environments, New York: Wiley. British Toilet Association (2000). Public toilets in England and Wales: Statistics from Audit Commission. Winchester: British Toilet Association. British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 1; Code of practice for the design of sanitary facilities and scales of provision of sanitary and associated appliances, London: British Standards Institution. British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 2; Code of practice for space requirements for sanitary appliances. London: British Standards Institution. British Standards Institution (2010). BS6465 Part 4 DRAFT; Code of practice for the provision of public toilets, London: British Standards Institution. Cavanagh S and Ware V (1991). At Women{\textquoteright}s Convenience: A handbook on the design of Women{\textquoteright}s Public Toilets, London: Women{\textquoteright}s Design Service. Central Cities Institute (2002). Licensing Reform London, University of Westminster, Central Cities Institute. Department for Communities and Local Government (2008). Communities and Local Government. The provision of public toilets, Twelfth report of session 2007-2008. Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. House of Commons, London: The Stationery Office Ltd. Disability Discrimination Act (1995). Disability Discrimination Act 1995, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Edwards J (1998). Policy making as organised irresponsibility: the case of public conveniences, Policy and Politics, 26 (3), pp.307-320 Environmental Protection Act (1990). Part II Waste on Land, London, HMSO Gillham B (2002). Real World Research Developing a questionnaire, London: Continuum. Greed C and Daniels I (2002). User and provider perspectives on public toilet provision. Report of Nuffield Trust Research, Occasional Paper, Faculty of the Built Environment. Bristol: University of the West of England. Greed C (2004). Public Toilets: The need to provide compulsory provision. Municipal Engineer Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 157(Issue ME), pp.77-85. Greed C (2005). Taking Stock: An overview of toilet provision and standards, Bristol: University of the West of England, Available from: http://kb.keepbritaintidy.org/ toilets/publications/stock.pdf (Accessed 27th July 2010). Greshenson O and Penner B (2009). Ladies and Gents Public Toilets and Gender, Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Hanson J, Begg N and Greed C (2007). The Accessible Public Toilet Resource Manual, London: University College London. Heinze J E (1985). Bar soap and liquid soap. Journal of the American Medical Association, 253 (11), p.1561. Heinze J E and Yackovich F (1988). Washing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria. Epidemiology & Infection, 101 (2), pp.135-42. Kabara J J and Brady M B (1984). Contamination of bar soaps under {"}in use{"} condition. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology, 5 (4), pp.1-14. Lano{\"e} N (2002). Ogier{\textquoteright}s reading research: How to make research more approachable (3rd edition), London: Bailli{\`e}re Tindall. Lockwood J (2001). The lockwood Survey: capturing, catering and caring for consumers, Huddersfield: Urban Management Initiatives. Miyanishi Y (1996). Comfortable public toilets: design and maintenance manual, Toyama: City Planning Department. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2004). Access and facilities for disabled people: Approved Document M, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Oxford City Council (2009). Your Views on Public Toilets in Oxford. Oxford: Oxford City Council Consultations, Available from: http://consultation.oxford.gov.uk/ consult.ti/publictoilets/consultationHome (Accessed 5th August 2010) (Internet). Polit D and Beck CT (2008). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (8th edition), London: Lippincott. Public Health Act (1936). (1 Edw. VII, C.87), London: HMSO. Restroom Association (Singapore) (2006). A guide to better public toilet design and maintenance, Singapore: Restroom Association, Available from: www.toilet.org.sg (Accessed 28th July 2010). Salkind N J (2007). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics (2nd edition), London: Sage. Sex Discrimination Act (2008). The Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Amendment Regulations 2008, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. States of Guernsey (2010). Guernsey Facts and Figures 2010, St Peter Port: Policy Council. Thomas S A (2000). How to write health sciences papers, dissertations and theses, London: Churchill Livingstone.",

year = "2012",

month = mar,

day = "1",

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pages = "59--67",

journal = "Journal of Environmental Health Research",

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AU - McDermott, Patricia Mary

AU - Kernohan, George

N1 - Reference text: Blackman T, Mitchell L, Burton E, Jenks M, Parsons M, Raman S and Williams K (2003). ‘The accessibility of public spaces for people with dementia: a new priority for the ‘open city’, Disability & Society, 18 (3),pp.357- 371. Booth C, Darke J and Yeandle S (1996) Changing Places: Women’s Lives in the City, London: Paul Chapman. Bournemouth Borough Council (2005). Bournemouth Seafront Public Toilet Satisfaction Survey. Bournemouth: Bournemouth Borough Council. Available from: http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/textonly/Visitors/Seafr ont/Seafront_Toilets.asp (Accessed 5th August 2010). Brawley EC (1997). Designing for Alzheimer’s Disease. Strategies for creating better care environments, New York: Wiley. British Toilet Association (2000). Public toilets in England and Wales: Statistics from Audit Commission. Winchester: British Toilet Association. British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 1; Code of practice for the design of sanitary facilities and scales of provision of sanitary and associated appliances, London: British Standards Institution. British Standards Institution (2006). BS6465 Part 2; Code of practice for space requirements for sanitary appliances. London: British Standards Institution. British Standards Institution (2010). BS6465 Part 4 DRAFT; Code of practice for the provision of public toilets, London: British Standards Institution. Cavanagh S and Ware V (1991). At Women’s Convenience: A handbook on the design of Women’s Public Toilets, London: Women’s Design Service. Central Cities Institute (2002). Licensing Reform London, University of Westminster, Central Cities Institute. Department for Communities and Local Government (2008). Communities and Local Government. The provision of public toilets, Twelfth report of session 2007-2008. Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. House of Commons, London: The Stationery Office Ltd. Disability Discrimination Act (1995). Disability Discrimination Act 1995, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Edwards J (1998). Policy making as organised irresponsibility: the case of public conveniences, Policy and Politics, 26 (3), pp.307-320 Environmental Protection Act (1990). Part II Waste on Land, London, HMSO Gillham B (2002). Real World Research Developing a questionnaire, London: Continuum. Greed C and Daniels I (2002). User and provider perspectives on public toilet provision. Report of Nuffield Trust Research, Occasional Paper, Faculty of the Built Environment. Bristol: University of the West of England. Greed C (2004). Public Toilets: The need to provide compulsory provision. Municipal Engineer Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 157(Issue ME), pp.77-85. Greed C (2005). Taking Stock: An overview of toilet provision and standards, Bristol: University of the West of England, Available from: http://kb.keepbritaintidy.org/ toilets/publications/stock.pdf (Accessed 27th July 2010). Greshenson O and Penner B (2009). Ladies and Gents Public Toilets and Gender, Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Hanson J, Begg N and Greed C (2007). The Accessible Public Toilet Resource Manual, London: University College London. Heinze J E (1985). Bar soap and liquid soap. Journal of the American Medical Association, 253 (11), p.1561. Heinze J E and Yackovich F (1988). Washing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria. Epidemiology & Infection, 101 (2), pp.135-42. Kabara J J and Brady M B (1984). Contamination of bar soaps under "in use" condition. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology, 5 (4), pp.1-14. Lanoë N (2002). Ogier’s reading research: How to make research more approachable (3rd edition), London: Baillière Tindall. Lockwood J (2001). The lockwood Survey: capturing, catering and caring for consumers, Huddersfield: Urban Management Initiatives. Miyanishi Y (1996). Comfortable public toilets: design and maintenance manual, Toyama: City Planning Department. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2004). Access and facilities for disabled people: Approved Document M, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Oxford City Council (2009). Your Views on Public Toilets in Oxford. Oxford: Oxford City Council Consultations, Available from: http://consultation.oxford.gov.uk/ consult.ti/publictoilets/consultationHome (Accessed 5th August 2010) (Internet). Polit D and Beck CT (2008). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (8th edition), London: Lippincott. Public Health Act (1936). (1 Edw. VII, C.87), London: HMSO. Restroom Association (Singapore) (2006). A guide to better public toilet design and maintenance, Singapore: Restroom Association, Available from: www.toilet.org.sg (Accessed 28th July 2010). Salkind N J (2007). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics (2nd edition), London: Sage. Sex Discrimination Act (2008). The Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Amendment Regulations 2008, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. States of Guernsey (2010). Guernsey Facts and Figures 2010, St Peter Port: Policy Council. Thomas S A (2000). How to write health sciences papers, dissertations and theses, London: Churchill Livingstone.

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N2 - In recent years there has been a decline in the state ofpublic toilets and, with over 50% of the public toiletsbeing closed, this has become a cause for public concern.Local authorities have no legal requirement to providepublic toilets and because of this some towns have nopublic toilet provision. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the adequacy and provision of the publictoilets on the Island of Guernsey. This investigation wasundertaken through observation of the 30 public toiletblocks and a questionnaire exploring the provision of thepublic toilets, emailed to a representative sample of theIsland population. All 18 of the toilets for those withdisabilities, 26 (out of 30) of the male and 27 (out of 30)of the female public toilets were observed and theresponse rate to the questionnaire was 48% (n=264).Results confirmed that there are an adequate number ofpublic toilet facilities for the Island’s population inaccordance with the British Standards. Fifty-five per centof respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with thenumber of facilities. However concerns were expressedabout the number of the public toilet that were closedduring the winter months and the proposed closure oftoilets in an effort to save money. The researchconcluded that the adequacy, provision and impressionof the public toilets on Guernsey was good, but moreattention needs to be given to year-round availabilityand the additional facilities required within them.

AB - In recent years there has been a decline in the state ofpublic toilets and, with over 50% of the public toiletsbeing closed, this has become a cause for public concern.Local authorities have no legal requirement to providepublic toilets and because of this some towns have nopublic toilet provision. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the adequacy and provision of the publictoilets on the Island of Guernsey. This investigation wasundertaken through observation of the 30 public toiletblocks and a questionnaire exploring the provision of thepublic toilets, emailed to a representative sample of theIsland population. All 18 of the toilets for those withdisabilities, 26 (out of 30) of the male and 27 (out of 30)of the female public toilets were observed and theresponse rate to the questionnaire was 48% (n=264).Results confirmed that there are an adequate number ofpublic toilet facilities for the Island’s population inaccordance with the British Standards. Fifty-five per centof respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with thenumber of facilities. However concerns were expressedabout the number of the public toilet that were closedduring the winter months and the proposed closure oftoilets in an effort to save money. The researchconcluded that the adequacy, provision and impressionof the public toilets on Guernsey was good, but moreattention needs to be given to year-round availabilityand the additional facilities required within them.

KW - Public Toilets

KW - WC

KW - Lavatory

KW - Antisocial

KW - behaviour

KW - Disabled Toilets

M3 - Article

VL - 12

SP - 59

EP - 67

JO - Journal of Environmental Health Research

JF - Journal of Environmental Health Research

IS - 1

ER -

The adequacy and public perception of the public toilet provision on Guernsey

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Cite this