Raising standards in public toilets
March 09th 2006

Following a successful 2005,Richard Chisnell, director of the British Toilet Association (BTA), highlights the progress of the toilet improvement campaign.

The first World Toilet Summit held in the West was the culmination of what was a successful year for the BTA. Over 350 delegates from 28 different countries attended the 2005 World Toilet Summit, hosted by the BTA, in Belfast between 26th and 29th September.Delegates discussed and approved 'The Belfast Protocol' and undertook to encourage Governments around the world to adopt the protocol (to view the ten-point protocol go to www.britloos.co.uk). After six years of campaigning to raise standards of public toilet provision, the BTA was invited to attend a meeting with the Local Government Minister to discuss ways of moving the public toilet provision agenda forward.

The British Toilet Association has achieved much media coverage since its inception in 1999, largely due to the widespread public support for its key objective of raising standards in all ‘away from home’ toilets. Most people understand that maintaining high standards is not down to ‘rocket science’ but more about persuading providers – management, cleaning staff and yes, users, that toilets deserve a higher mental priority – at all levels.

The argument isn’t just about hygiene and cleanliness – it is about recognising the all important marketing power afforded to that vital first (and lasting) impression when we go to spend a penny.

We need to see managers given responsibility, preferably with authority, to develop toilet provision strategies which really set a new standard of provision for staff, customers and visitors. These managers have tremendous potential to generate additional revenues and customers for their business. The pub chain which seizes the opportunity to provide clean, safe toilets for customers (and noncustomers) up until closing time will be very popular.

Street fouling is a very serious issue, particularly at night time and if those who so keenly fill bladders take on some responsibility for ensuring they are emptied before customers depart the premises, society will be eternally grateful and our streets a lot cleaner.So,new management initiatives are needed, a higher management priority everywhere and we’ll start seeing a big difference.

If a seat or tap is broken fix it quickly – don’t wait until there’s only one good one left! It’s depressing to hear toilet attendants or cleaning staff bemoan the fact that they’ve been reporting damage or defects for months to no avail! In the good old days you got sacked for incompetence. That’s before bog standard became the acceptable standard! The BTA continues to provide a consultation service to all toilet providers.We have carried out major reviews of public toilet provision in over forty Local Authorities – all keen to re-assess their provision strategy.

With the Government’s continuing policy of squeezing out discretionary public services (LA’s do not have to provide any public toilets) we need everyone within the cleaning industry to voice support for the BTA campaign.Many countries have a mandatory provision policy and are setting new standards – often well above our current ‘bog standard’.

The Loo of the Year Awards, established in 1987 grows each year, as more providers recognise the (customer) pulling power of their toilets. Entering the Loo of the Year Awards provides a cost effective way of gaining an independent, annual audit of your toilet provision. We have over one hundred grading assessment criteria used by our team of Inspectors and our Star Grading scheme is now recognised as a benchmark for toilet provision all over the UK.

We have also introduced our ‘Loo Monitor Service’. This follows the same assessment system as the competition entries but allows for all toilets within a business to receive two or more inspection visits each year, with automatic entry into the Loo of the Year Awards, where required. Another cost effective way of having an independent assessment of your toilet facilities – monthly if required, as we form a partnership to raise standards and monitor regular improvements.

We’re proud of our strap line – “Raising Standards in Partnership”.Together,we can root out the ‘bog standard’ image associated with ‘away from home’ toilets.

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