Changes

Peckham is a major shopping centre in Southwark, thronging with shoppers and visitors. The lack of public toilets creates serious problems. Local residents have for many years campaigned for public toilets. Local residents and traders presented a petition with over 4000 signatures to the Council in September 2013. The petition asked that the provision of public toilets should be part of the redesign of the area in front of Peckham Rye station, in addition to the toilets to be installed on each of the 4 platforms inside the station, because they will be accessible only to rail travellers and the holders of freedom passes. This was included in the brief for the Peckham CoDesign process between August and October 2014. Planning permission was granted in 2016 on the Council's own planning application for the station square works, including an arch reserved for the public toilets. These works are scheduled to start in 2024 to be competed completed in 20252026. We need public discussion now about the design and management of the new public toilets.[[Image:Public toilets in central Rye Lane A4.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Leaflet]] ==Latest News 2024=====February 2024 Public toilets disappearing===[https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/anxious-britains-public-toilets-disappeared-2903257 Independent February 14, 2024] “I was too anxious to leave my house – because Britain’s public toilets have disappeared” Local authorities and government should recognise that public-accessible toilets are a fundamental pillar of public health, say the British Toilet Association ===January 2024 Meeting Cabinet Member Cllr Akoto===Loos-for-Southwark met with Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Public Health, and the council officer who is head of the Council Local Economy Unit, on 18th January to follow up the deputation to Cabinet in December. Eileen Conn and Corinne Turner from Peckham Vision were there and all together those of us there were from Rotherhithe, Camberwell, Bermondsey, Peckham and Dulwich. There was a useful and positive discussion about the need to increase provision of both public toilets (Council) and community toilets (in business and other premises), and to engage local people in helping to survey need and provision in their local areas. It was agreed there needed to be a strategic approach to the issues raised and to meet again once the agreed actions had been taken.

[[Image:23.12.05 o-s Tooley St GAlQ1gQXsAADOYP.jpg|right|thumb|220px300px|Deputation outside Council offices before the Cabinet meeting]]

Loos for Southwark gave evidence on 15 November to the Council’s Health and Care Commission about the need for a strategy for public toilets in Southwark. Eileen Conn from Peckham Vision contributed by '''[[Media:PV_points_for_Southwark_Health_%26_Care_Commission.pdf|giving evidence of the lack of public toilets in Peckham town centre and the longstanding local campaign for public toilets in the redevelopment of the front of Peckham Rye station.]]''' A community toilets scheme involving all businesses with suitable facilities would be very welcome as well. <br>  '''Peckham Vision points for the Loos for Southwark campaign at the Scrutiny Committee meeting'''* In Peckham local people strongly support the campaign for public loos because of the public health issues both for the people excluded from going out and also the public health hazard created through lack of loos.* The strategy must provide for good processes to involve local people to discuss the local need, and the details of how to provide for loos, taking into account the guidance now available on good practise.* Our views are based especially on the damaging effects of the lack of public toilets in Peckham town centre.* The strategy must include public toilets in commercial centres like Peckham alongside a strong and wide community toilets scheme, because the leisure and entertainment destination brings many visitors beyond the usual retail hours.* The lack of public toilets means that people with health issues or with small children are excluded from visiting the town centre.* It also results in fouling in the street creating a public health hazard.* After a long community campaign from 2013, planning permission was granted in 2016 for new public toilets in the redevelopment of the front of Peckham Rye station.* This is scheduled to be implemented in 2024-25, but the Council has not given any information about the design and management of the new facilities.* The design and management of the facilities to be produced in the new Peckham Rye station square need to be discussed with local people in the neighbourhood as soon as possible before decisions are made.[[Image:LOOS FOR SOUTHWARK LOGO .jpg|right|thumb|150px|]]

Peckham Vision has joined the campaign for a strategy for public toilets in Southwark. This is being supported by Age Concern UK London as part of their '''[https://www.ageuk.org.uk/london/projects-campaigns/out-and-about/london-loos/ Loos for London campaign.] '''

The work in phase 1 in Blenheim Grove should be completed soon. Phases 2 & 3 on the new square will begin when Phase 1 is complete. '''[https://www.southwark.gov.uk/regeneration/peckham-and-nunhead/peckham-rye-station-square Details are on Council's website.]''' The work to provide public toilets was scheduled for Phase 3 of the works starting this year. '''Recent questions, in August 2022, to the Council by Peckham Vision about the plans for the new public toilets - design and operation, and the timing of public consultation on them, elicited, only after a long delay, that public toilets will be provided in the redevelopment of the Aylesham site. '''[https://www.southwark.gov.uk/assets/attach/7514/Gateway-to-Peckham-FAQ-GB.docx See the last paragraph in the FAQs here.]''' This appears to mean that the Council agreement for public toilets at the station, and the subsequent granting of planning permission, has been overturned by the Council without any public information or discussion. Further information is being sought about this decision. ''' <br>