Victory in sight for Clapton ‘save our loos’ campaign

Brooksby’s Walk toilets ‘refurbished’. Photograph: Clapton Improvement Society

A campaign to flush away council plans to sell off public toilets on Brooksby’s Walk, Clapton, is gathering support.

Over 750 people have put their names to a petition objecting to the demolition of the toilets and the development of two shops and two flats in their place.

The Clapton Improvement Society (CIS) says the conveniences provide sanitation to Chatsworth Road market, and that selling the toilets would conflict with council development and planning policies.

Though closed 18 years ago, the toilets were recently found open. Community-minded locals seized upon the opportunity to refurbish and fit them with new locks. A series of ‘Events in the Gents’ were then set up to raise money for their maintenance.

But on 19 May, subcontractors employed by the council entered the block and broke tiles, windows and doors, before boarding up the toilets. The Clapton Improvement Society says the council could net as little as £100,000 for the site, with no alternative amenities nearby.

Now, it appears community pressure has won over planners at Hackney Town Hall. Jon Aldenton, from the Clapton Improvement Society, said that following a meeting with the Director of Property, “subject to mayoral approval, we could secure a 99-year lease.”

He added: “We’re trying to do something for the good of all – a bit of social entrepreneurship I think they call it. I’m sure the society can work with the council on this; we’ll be trying to get them re-opened for the next market.”

A trader close to the toilets applauded the work of the Clapton Improvement Society, saying: “It will benefit the community and shops” and “definitely be good for businesses”.

Leabridge councillors Ian Rathbone and Linda Kelly opposed the council’s original proposals, and Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, recently tweeted: “I support plan to re-open Chatsworth Road public toilets.”

Cllr Rathbone said there had been no consultation prior to the council drawing up its plans.

The toilets were later secured by the council. Photograph: Marta Wlusek

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “The council is interested in discussing plans for the Brooksby’s Walk toilets that would benefit the community.

“Any future proposal must be financially sound, meet all legal requirements including planning permission, licences and fire assessments.

“In the meantime, the planning application that has already been submitted will continue, but any disposal or development of the property will be held to enable the Clapton Improvement Society or others to come up with a viable project.”

The council says it cannot allow anyone to just start selling goods without going through the correct process as this is illegal, and that is why it took action to stop any further trading. In the interests of public safety the council has a duty to ensure that all commercial enterprises abide by the law, trading hours and have the correct licences to trade.

Any plans for a café, pop-up bars, tea houses or toilets need planning permission, licenses, health and safety risk assessments and fire assessments before they can go ahead.

The council says that: “To achieve full local engagement and best consideration [it] considers that there may be other organisations with ideas for  such a project” and is looking to find out.

It also says that adjoining occupiers need to be consulted to see if they are happy with a proposal to open the toilets alongside these other uses.