Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Bromley supermarket faces criticism for closing its toilets, sparking concerns from shoppers and campaigners about accessibility and urgent public health needs.
A Crohn’s disease patient from South London has demanded that Sainsbury’s reopen restrooms in its Bromley superstore, claiming that those with the condition are hampered by the lack of convenient access to the facilities.
Although there is still one accessible restroom at the Walters Yard supermarket, the main restrooms have been closed due to graffiti and “misuse,” thus you will need to contact a staff member for the key.
In Olly Russell’s case, that means he feels “limited” because he fears being caught short. The 41-year-old, who lives in Shortlands, said:
“Having access to a toilet is incredibly important because sometimes you get caught short and you just have to go.
If you only have one toilet for everybody – so people with physical disabilities, people with unseen disabilities, mothers with their children, all of that – it’s not workable.”
Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that results in ulceration, swelling, and inflammation in some areas of the intestines. Fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, and stomach pain are some of the symptoms.
According to Mr. Russell, patrons with health issues like Crohn’s disease, the elderly, and parents of small children will all suffer as a result of the restroom shutdown.
Mr. Russell responded to Sainsbury’s decision to close the restrooms due to graffiti and overuse by saying that employees and security personnel should pay closer attention to the restrooms on a daily basis to avoid any misuse.
He said:
“With Sainsbury’s doing this, it will eventually affect their bottom line. Maybe not in a very clear way, but for a certain subset of people who do have disabilities, it can change where you go to shop.
I’m not asking for any real special treatment. All I want is the option for a toilet I can just access instantly without a passcode or without a key or without some sort of rigmarole because often, you’ve not got much time.”
The closure has also drawn criticism from Bromley councillor Sam Webber, a Liberal Democrat. He was concerned that the closure of the Bromley Sainsbury’s restrooms might have a cascading effect on the other Sainsbury’s locations in the borough, including those in Beckenham, Penge, Orpington, Chislehurst, and Locksbottom.
Cllr Webber said:
“I raised this issue in the Bromley council chamber because I am very concerned about the impact on our most vulnerable residents. Those with conditions like Crohn’s, as well as elderly residents and those with children, should not be forced to queue up and request a key for the disabled toilet in the Bromley Sainsbury’s store.
I am even more concerned that the other five Sainsbury’s superstores will gradually see their toilets closed too. I hope Sainsbury’s will now think again on this. If not, I suspect many of their customers will be voting with their feet and shopping elsewhere.”
Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, said that public toilets are vital for people living with Crohn’s and colitis, because symptoms include needing to use the loo frequently and urgently.
While it is good that an accessible toilet will still be available at this supermarket, customers will still have to spend time finding a staff member to get a key to open it. And that will be challenging due to needing toilet access quickly.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said that due to ongoing challenges with misuse, they made the difficult decision to close some of the toilets at our Bromley store last year and are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Their accessible toilet remains available for customers who may need it, with our colleagues on hand to provide access.
What alternatives are available for people in Bromley to use public toilets?
The community toilet plan run by Bromley Council allows local establishments like cafes, licensed bars, restaurants, and supermarkets to make their restrooms available to the public during business hours without charging a fee. To find participating restrooms in their area, residents can utilize a map that the council has made available online.
Bromley has Changing Places toilets for individuals with complex disabilities who need extra assistance, like hoists and changing benches. The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley Vue Cinema, and parks like High Elms and Crystal Palace are among the places that offer these particularly designed amenities. These give people with serious needs safe, respectable access.
Numerous accessible restrooms, including ones for people with disabilities and a Changing Places facility with amenities like adjustable benches, are available in the Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley.