Colchester Borough Council is looking at the possibility of installing a new, hi-tech urinal to ease the problem of late night revellers urinating in shop doorways.
The Urilift urinal is only in place during chosen hours. Using a hydraulic lift system, it can go underground when not in use.
The toilet can be used by three men at the same time and attention has been paid to the design and location to make sure there is adequate privacy, it is claimed. The council has been looking into the option of using a Urilift as there are no public toilets open between 8pm and 8am. If plans go ahead, one Urilift will be installed outside the Essex council’s Angel Court building in High Street.
This proposal is part of what the council calls its toilet strategy, which has been created with the aim of improving public toilet facilities in the borough.
What they say
Cllr Christopher Arnold, Portfolio Holder for Street Services and Waste, said: “When crowds are at their peak in the town centre in the late evening and early morning there are major problems as far as public sanitation is concerned. The Urilift looks as if it will offer a good solution to this problem, providing a public toilet facility when the pubs and clubs close up for the night while improving the situation for town centre traders whose shop fronts are regularly urinated in at the moment.”
The Urilift is already in use in other parts of the country. Reading Council has two Urilifts, which have been in place for three years. They are centrally located, well used and have been relatively problem free, it is claimed. Westminster City Council also has two Urilifts and also reports that they are well used and efficient.
Colchester Borough Council will now look in more depth as to whether the proposed location in High Street would be suitable for the Urilift.
English Heritage has already signalled its approval; further consultation will take place with town police and the Colchester Town Partnership before proposal is agreed, with a view to installing the Urilift in February 2006.
