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Government-funded survey shows that what puts people off shopping in the town is the state of the town loos. Surprise. Surprise! |
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The week before last Business Link and the Guild of Commerce organised a meeting for town traders to present the findings of government-funded "Mystery Shopper" survey of the town which was intended to help traders understand how shoppers and visitors rate their services and how to improve them. It baffled shopkeepers why this meeting was fixed for when England kicked off in a World Cup Match - one of those times which PR departments traditionally choose to "bury bad news". Suspecting dirty work afoot, I wrote to Business Link explaining why I wouldn't be going, asking if there could be another presentation at a better time and requesting a copy of the results. No answer!
Things became clearer after the Mayor let slip at the Town Council last week that the main finding in the survey was that the thing which puts most people off shopping in the town is the state of the town loos - which are the responsibility of the District Council who are also responsible for Tourism and Economic Development. Strange we have heard nothing about this. Strange that there was no Press Release. Talk about news manipulation. Well done for blowing the gaffe Gina. The District Council will be pleased with you. By the way nobody needed to waste money on an expensive survey to find out what visitors think of the town loos. We've been banging on about that for years now. The time for surveys is long past. The Full Council of West Oxfordshire District debate the subject yet again on Wednesday this week. Can we please have some action |
OUR NEW TOWN LOOS
| Next Wednesday the Chippy Public Loos go straight on to the Cabinet Agenda. Nobody else has had a chance to comment on the report (including the Town Council) which seems a shame. Since the Cabinet previously decided that a new location was to be found, only the Cabinet can decide that it would be better after all to re-furbish the existing toilets underneath the Town Hall. The Town Council told WODC as much back in January but it has taken this long to get the matter progressed. A report is presented from the officers reviewing progress on the loo refurbishment programme. The report begins....The contract for the refurbishment is progressing well with the completion of the following sites to date: New Street Car Park, Chipping Norton...... (Well when I saw this I popped out to check on the New Street Car Park. Just to let Cabinet members know the latest situation as of Wednesday morning - the loos in New Street Car Park are actually still shut and heavily padlocked!) As for the new plans the officers seem to be suggesting that staying in the existing location is a good idea (but leaving the actual decision to the Cabinet who are the experts you understand). "Healthmatic have confirmed that the scheme can be achieved within the available budget of 125,000 for the refurbishment of these toilets. (yes you read that right...125,000 for four cubicles!!!) The refurbishment option provides flexibility in that the toilets can remain as separate Gents and Ladies facilities or be unisex on both sides of the building. It also attracts the value added benefit of offering 4 unisex cubicles instead of the 3 proposed in the original new building proposal. Should this option be considered, Members could also choose to reduce the number of cubicles at the Town Hall from 4 which would see a saving against the agreed budget. However, this would create voids within the existing building which would not have any useful purpose. Much concern has been expressed about the ambience of the existing facilities. The contractors have emphasised that the redesign will create a more pleasant atmosphere by improving lighting, ventilation, decoration and approach routes to give a more welcoming feel to the conveniences. Antiloitering alarms will also be fitted to dissuade patrons from congregating in the access areas In light of the difficulties with identifying alternative sites, the opportunity to refurbish the existing facilities may be considered a suitable alternative". |
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BUT WHERE HAVE THE URINALS GONE |
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CABINET TELL CHIPPY |
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"If the Town Council had approved the plan we put to them eighteen months ago, these loos would be built and operational by now" said a very grumpy Councillor Harvey who emerged today from the Cabinet ranks as undisputed boss of Public Conveniences (West Oxfordshire). In case you have forgotten this is what they proposed !!
Some hapless officer came to the town with a plan for this free-standing loo to be plonked in the middle of the Market Square or in the motor cycle bay outside Somerfield. He got a very frosty reception. Since then - despite several working parties - nobody has managed to identify any site in the Town Centre which is even vaguely acceptable. In January the Town Council requested that a search for a new site in the town centre should be dropped and the old loos underneath the Town Hall should be re-furbished instead. However, there now seems some doubt about whether word of this request actually reached the District Council. Whatever. Now Councillor Harvey is properly on the case he is having none of the idea. It wouldn't be a sensible use of money. Difficult site. Wrong location. He wants full co-operation from the Town in finding a new site which everyone agrees about - and he wants the matter resolved by September 30th. He has heard there are "architectural" concerns (just look at the pictures above!). Well he will find designs which have worked in other sensitive environments. Councillor Biles agreed with him. Councillor Townley thought it would be a complete waste of money to try and refurbish the old loos. He was very impressed with the new New Street Car Park loos. We want some more just like them. Councilllor Howes however asked some really good questions. First about why this proposal hadn't been considered by the Environment Committee or the Town Council before being brought to the Cabinet. Because that would have only delayed things, snapped Leader Barry Norton. So much for consulting local councils about their own town centres. Mike Howes thought the costs (ie 125,000) were far too high. But then he asked whether the costs being quoted were real costs or of the inflated and meaningless variety - ie after the accountants had finished capitalising revenue costs like salaries. (We are capital-rich and revenue-poor so these adjustments are necessary to maximise financial benefit to us - said the Leader. But surely even the Audit Commission might raise their eyebrows at 125,000 for four cubicles!!) Mary Neale, David Harvey and Barry Norton then all pretended they couldn't understand what Mike was asking. It was pretty clear from where I was sitting what he was asking. What are the actual costs of these loos - not the figure going in the books It was obvious that nobody wanted to give him an answer. When you come to think of it...how could anyone possibly believe that four cubicles could conceivably cost 125,000 Just what is going on here Anyway the vote was carried. The loos were coming out of the Town Hall but going ....where This is all easier said than done. Perhaps Councillor Harvey knows a place for a loo that hasn't occurred yet to any of the Town Councillors. If so, he shouldn't hold out on us. I suspect that the District Council are in fact simply trying to manoeuvre us back to their previous plan. Its their own "free" land in front of Somerfields and starting a building from scratch will cost them much much less than refurbishing the basement of a listed building. So folks its time to get your thinking caps on again. We want our town loos to be central but not "in your face". All suggestions welcomed. What about building them at the Town Hall end of that small council car park in Cattle Market 50 yards from the Town Hall and discreetly tucked away. Coaches could even stop right next to them. Works for me. |
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS - AT LAST |
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