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Posted by NigelR on 3/4/2008, 11:35 am Message modified by board administrator 4/4/2008, 8:19 pm
Is it reasonable for me to complain to the people who run Queeen Street station in glasgow. There used to be a long row of approx 8 urinals with god separation and dividers so I often went there for a definite success. went in yesterday and they have installed two disgusting troughs instead.
Reason i ask is that there are plenty of cubicles so to them the easy answer will be to say "why not use the cubicles"
On the one hand, it is too late to change back; on the other hand if no-one gives a negative response, they are entitled to the usual "no-one else has complained"!
And as you say, there are always cubicles.
A possible approach could be to write more in sorrow than in anger that, what was once a facility providing a decent degree of personal privacy, is now one that give no privacy at all. You are sorry that, for the sake of a minor cost saving, users are now deprived of what was a much more civilised facility.
It would be worth mentioning that the DfES has published standards for new and refurbished school toilets that specifies screens between urinals, which bans troughs, and even suggests putting urinals in doorless cubicles. On that basis how can they justify retrograde standards.
Whatever you do, avoid sounding emotional or getting personal. If you can keep the letter on a factual basis, it is more likely to be read and answered.
Hi there Noticed now in the supermarkets that instead of the dreaded troughs they are putting about three urinal bowls.With etiquette one goes to one end and if another man comes in he goes to the other,but theres a sting.The end bowl is for children and is dropped down about six inches so consequently the second person has to stand right next to you using the middle bowl.Also I have noticed in three seperate toilets I've visited that the bowls are mounted as close to each other as possible so that anybody using the next bowl to you is physically touching(no jostling for position).Is it that the designer of these toilets has an awareness of our predicament and has a sadistic streak in him??
No sadism Roy, only ignorance and economics. An architect told me that in a building design, things like toilets are delegated to the most junior person, as being of little importance.
As for spacing: a) you'll noticce that as little space as possible is given over to toilets in total, because it robs space from the selling space.
b) toilets tend to be fabricated from standard panels, which come in fixed sizes.
The only way things will change is when there are Design Standards to be adhered to. The new DfES specification for toilets in schools is not mandatory, but obviously anyone ignoring them will have their work cut out explaining why. It recommends avoiding using urinals altogether; if provided, they are to be in standard cubicles but without doors.
Toilet design and layout is often dreadful. No thought whatsoever. For example, if Tesco cannot afford to put dividers between the bowls on the wall, why not set the bowls into the corner of the space allocated? That way you are turned away from the person you are next to. Takes up no more space, and gives privacy. I only mention Tesco because in my experience all their toilets are the same - two bowls, two cubicles alongside, and two washbasins. All stores have the same configuration. It would cost very little to alter the layout, and peeing would be a more comfortable experience for many. Colin P.S. It stands out a mile that most architects have little sense. Otherwise the Womens toilets would occupy more space than the Mens toilets! Visit any venue or department store and what do you see? - A Queue for the Ladies!
Hi all from Downunder, I read through other sites on a periodic basis, and this is an interesting one. Down here, there are no governing or regulatory bodies to help with Public Toilet Design. Consequently the "Lowest Common Denominator" usually prevails, especially in pubs, clubs, parks, train stations and sporting stadiums - and ALL SCHOOLS! What I am referring to here is the dreaded trough, which is basically ingrained into the psyche of toilets in Australasia. No offence, but other countries have it relatively easy compared to down here. At large venues, the number of cubicles is also disproportionately very low - arguably the most extreme in the world. Suffering from this condition since Primary School, I have no doubt that troughs - as opposed to bowls, and bowls with dividers, is more likely to push someone "over the edge", and precipitate paruresis. I tried once to complain to the management of ANZ Stadium (previously the Sydney Olympic Stadium) - and hit a brick wall!!! Once the toilets are in that's it!!! Even though complaints usually fall on deaf ears, if enough do - eventually someone might listen! The only notable improvement that has happened in recent years is that bowls are now more established in major Shopping Centres and Airports - which is where you need to cut your teeth (esp onces with 2 or more walls either at right angles or back to back) before attempting troughs. "Dividers" at bowls however, are as rare as hen's teeth. Hopefully one day Steven Soifer and the World Toilet Organization will one day get some global uniformity and standards set. Derek Meade( PAA and IPA Member)
Tesco toilets are AWFUL, they use the same company nationwide, and the cubicles are the same size, very low down from the ceiling - if you stand up and you're tall, you can nearly see over them - and they come high off the ground, as well as generally being tiny. I just go in the disabled, if I get caught short in Tesco. I can't believe people don't complain!
