Thetford toilets stay open despite drug fears

Thetford's public toilets will remain open despite problems with antisocial behaviour.

The possibility of closing the Bridge Street toilets to the public but giving a key to coach drivers was mooted at a meeting of town officials in April this year.

However, after further discussions with the town's Matthew Project, which supports people with drug and alcohol-related issues, and NHS Norfolk, it has been decided they will remain open.

Instead, a number of signs will be erected directing people to dispose of any needles in the bins provided, which are already on the outside of the toilet buildings on Bridge Street and Cage Lane.

All toilet staff have been sent on a Sharps Awareness Course, to train them how best to deal with any paraphernalia found in the toilets.

The hope is that, in addition, the people leaving drug equipment behind will be encouraged by the Matthew Project to behave in a more responsible way.

Town clerk Ed Chambers said: 'The good news is things haven't got worse since the issue was last published. We're hoping by protecting our staff we're in a much more comfortable situation whereas before we had inexperienced people dealing with unexpected situations.

'There is a better understanding of the problem and the hope is it won't get worse.'

The town council, which is responsible for all public toilets in the Thetford, was forced to close disabled toilets on Cage Lane in March and then again this April this year because drug paraphernalia was found at the site.

An attendant is employed to maintain the toilets twice daily but sanitary bins were found to be used for stashing drug paraphernalia and members of the public complained of them being left dirty and unusable.

Mr Chambers added: 'We're accepting that closing the toilets may have been an over reaction but we're very hopeful the people who have misused are Matthew Project clients who may realise what the reaction has been. Closing the toilets would have possibly displaced the problem.'