CM Dec'09 64+4pp 14/12/09 16:19 Page 4
News & Comment
Why toilets are so engaging
In December I attended my second Loo Of Indeed,‘Where can I go?’ is the strapline to the British Toilet
the Year Awards, and as usual all my friends Association’s new campaign for better public toilets. It’s a
were jealous. Quite a few of them wanted to ‘bottom up’ campaign, meaning that we cannot wait for
attend, why? Because they thought it would improvements to filter down from government level, it must
be funny.Yes, ha ha, flushed with success, all be a grassroots movement that pushes for change.
cisterns go, etc, etc. I am interested to see what 2010 holds for the cleaning
And though there is a great deal of industry, and look forward to hearing about all your new
humour in the toilet industry, there are some initiatives, products and resolutions.
very serious issues. We were shown a very moving Changing
Places video, made by a mother who was trying to help her
disabled son use a public toilet that was entirely unsuitable.
There was no option but to lay the young man on a damp, Gerardine Coyne
dirty floor and struggle to clean him. (www.changing- editor – Cleaning Matters
places.org).The queues in the ladies toilets may be frustrating, Tel: 01342 333721
but at least we have somewhere to go. email: gcoyne@progressive-media.co.uk
Keep standards not seats up
location so they can pinpoint it in
the remote Rutana Province of
Burundi.
This year’s Loo of the Year Awards Lanarkshire Council for adult/child 40% of the world populations –
(LOYA) received 1548 separate entries changing facilities, ASDA for 2.6 billion people – don’t have
from all over the UK.“Standards in babychange facilities, and The access to a toilet. Left lying around,
our entrant’s toilets continue to Camping & Caravanning Club for human waste is the world’s biggest
improve, helping us to achieve the family friendly facilities. killer with a child dying every 17
LOYA objective of encouraging the Trophy winners in the associated seconds from diarrhoeal diseases.
highest possible standards in all Attendant of the Year Awards, for The latrines, scattered amongst
types of ‘away from home’ or public the people who put the sparkle and hill villages, are being built by
toilets,” says Mike Bone, LOYA pride into the UK's toilets, were: families returning after 14 years
director, who was resplendent in a Brighton & Hove City Council
pink bow tie at the ceremony, held (individual attendant team), Butlins
Twin your
exile in the refugee camps of
neighbouring Tanzania. They are
in the National Motorcycle Museum (in-house cleaning team) and bringing sanitation and improved
on December 4th. Healthmatic (external contactor
team). For a full list of entries and
toilet for
health to thousands of people who
lost everything in the long civil
winners, visit www.loo.co.uk.
“The great thing is CM spoke to Raymond Martin, charity
war.
“To engage with Toilet Twinning
that it’s a celebration”
LOYA Inspector who said,“It’s so has to be a no brainer for anyone
hard, we want to give everyone a The cleaning industry is being involved in the cleaning industry,”
prize. The great thing is that it’s a urged to sign up to the first global says Richard Dickson, CORD
Standards in awards entrant's celebration, a good news campaign Toilet Twinning Campaign by director.
toilets are also improving – 58% of – here are the things you can do, linking Britain’s public loos with “We have such wonderful public
the total entries achieved the top 5 and that you can achieve. We want their very own ‘twin’ latrine deep in facilities in this country and I
Star grading (42% in cleaners as well as the African bush. would urge everyone to support us
2008). Winners directors to be The scheme is the brainchild of and make a real difference to the
include; McDonalds proud.” UK international charity CORD lives of people who have arrived
which won the Overall The attendees which works in Africa and Asia home with literally nothing.”
Winners Trophy, TC were entertained by with the victims of war and violent There was plenty of enthusiasm
Contractors for magician and conflict. for the idea at LOYA, where award
individual category entertainer Paul For just £60 twinners can help a winners saw the potential for
entries, Brighton and Daniels. And for family returning home to a country promoting the cause in their ladies
Hove City Council for anyone who wants to ravaged by years of civil war to and gents facilities.
public toilet entries, J D know the secret of his dazzling start again from scratch. To support the world’s first
Wetherspoon for corporate celebrity smile, instead of turning to Every twinner receives a framed Toilet Twinning, visit the website at
provider entries for the second year the camera and saying “Cheese,” picture of their exclusive twin www.toilettwinning.org or call
running, East Lothian Council for the lovely Debbie McGee’s husband latrine to hang in their loo, 01926 31530. All industry support
accessible facilities, South simply says “Sex.” complete with its Google Earth is welcome.
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