Cllr Sheila Chapman by one of the new loos

CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed seven new public toilets that are set to open in Islington next month, but the Town Hall have come under fire for delivering the project two years later than promised.

The rollout will see automated loos installed in Holloway Road, Seven Sisters Road, and Highbury Crescent.

The toilet in Newington Green was opened in February 2024, and facilities at City Road and Highbury Fields are now also up and running.

Cornelius McAfee, who co-founded the Loos for Islington campaign in October 2022, welcomed the new public lavatories.

He said: “They will add to the quality of life for a lot of people. Disabled people, pensioners, they need these facilities. Fair play to the council, it has taken a long time, but they’re getting it done now.”

Campaigners had consistently raised the issue of the borough being devoid of toilets, leaving many vulnerable residents feeling isolated and unable to go out in case they were caught short.

Mr McAfee, who became aware of the lack of loos in the borough after a cancer diagnosis left him needing to use the facilities more often, added: “It is a win that we’re getting public toilets. It has taken a lot of work and effort. I don’t think they would have done anything without Loos for Islington raising the case.”

The new public toilets are self-cleaning

The Town Hall originally pledged a £1.2million investment to improve public toilets in early 2023, with promises that they would be completed by October that year. A new completion date of October 2024 was later agreed.

In the meantime, the Town Hall was shelling out thousands under a previous contract to cover the cost of service and maintenance of facilities which were out of order.

Caroline Russell, a Green councillor for Highbury ward, labelled the delays “incredibly frustrating” and told the Tribune that it was the “passionate” efforts of campaigners which had secured the new infrastructure. She said: “The Labour council took far too long to grip the issue of toilet contracts on toilets that were beyond service life and left Islington residents for far too long without access to functioning toilets.

“It is frustrating and shocking that public toilet provision was so poor and nothing had been done about it for so long.”

“But at least they have listened to Age UK campaigners,” she added, “who have been making the case so passionately about why access to toilets matters and why it’s an inclusion issue. So I’m glad these toilets are now brought it use.”

Cornelius McAfee campaigning for the loos

The new toilets are automatic, meaning each unit is self-cleaning, with an automatic disinfection of the toilet bowl, seat, floor, and walls after every use. But Mr McAfee worried that the automated facilities would suffer from vandalism and would not remain in a fit state to be consistently open.

Cllr Russell added: “APCs provide a service to councils where there is no need to employ anybody and where the toilets hopefully remain in service and clean for everyone to use, but they are not a replacement for a public toilet block.”

Councillor Sheila Chapman, the Town Hall’s equalities chief, said: “Whether you’re an older resident, a parent with young children, or someone with a disability, having access to clean, safe, and free facilities makes a huge difference.

“These new toilets are a win for dignity and equality in Islington. They help everyone enjoy our parks, cafés, and town centres, at all hours of the day, without stress or barriers. As a parent of three, I know how vital this is – and I’m very proud we’re delivering it.”