Shock at closure of toilets in Colchester Lower Castle Park

The toilets in Lower Castle Park, next to the boating lake, will be shut from today (October 1) onwards. 

Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell says he is appalled by the decision. 

He said: “It is time that councillors took back control. My enquiries indicate that no councillor has discussed closing the toilets, yet alone agreed to it.

"The proposal to close has come from officers. 

“We elect councillors to make decisions, to be our elected representatives at the town hall. They have the power to stop the closure. Let them use that power. 

Upset - Sir Bob Russell is calling upon councillors to reopen the public toilets (Image: Public)

“If the Council is serious about wanting Castle Park to continue to be a showcase for both residents and as a tourist attraction, then councillors should recognise that public toilets are needed in Lower Castle Park.” 

Castle ward councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor is also unhappy to see the facilities closed. 

He said: “It’s a real, real shame that these toilets are being forced to close. There will be signs installed to direct people to the other facilities by the cafe, which will be the next public toilet. 

“I agree completely that it is a real shame they are being closed and it is not what I would have wanted at all. 

Councillor - Richard Kirkby-Taylor said it is a real shame that the toilets are being shut (Image: Newsquest)

“Unfortunately, with the continued austerity we are unlikely to reopen them any time soon. Hopefully, the new Government will recover the funding costs which will allow us to keep these facilities open.” 

Council bosses say the decision was made to save costs, as the toilets have frequently been vandalised. 

A council spokesman said: “We understand the public’s concerns regarding the decision to close the toilets in Lower Castle Park.  

“The toilets in the lower park suffer from regular vandalism, meaning that the expensive repair bills make them extremely costly to keep open. 

“The council’s limited resources will instead be focused on maintaining the other two more heavily used public toilet facilities in Castle Park to a high standard, ensuring that these facilities remain open for all to use. 

“This change is part of our efforts to manage unprecedented financial pressures on the council’s budget. We are working hard to transform into a leaner, more efficient organisation, reducing our operating costs by 25 per cent over the next two years.  

“We believe this decision strikes a balance between maintaining public safety, ensuring our green spaces remain open and accessible for all, all whilst we take the steps needed to ensure we can balance the budget and live within our means.”