Friday 7 December 2012

It's Seasonal Closing Time !

Much as I love the Derbyshire Dales things aren't perfect. For instance we have Seasonal Closing Time ! 

This is the time of year when our local council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, closes some of their toilets. Here's their notice at Over Haddon ... 

Over Haddon public toilets ...

They don't even open them at the weekend.

I was walking in this area recently and I was quite looking forward to visiting the toilets. You don't need me to mention my situation to realise that when I want to go ... I want to go ...

When I got to the toilets ... I couldn't go. Not because I had a mental block but because the doors were locked. I was livid. I was under some pressure. Then I saw that someone had expressed their thoughts on the door of the ladies toilet ...

Over Haddon public toilets ...  

Very mild graffiti but amusing and it makes a point.

I love the fact that the Council boasts of 'Keeping the Derbyshire Dales clean, safe, healthy and beautiful' ...

For me though [and you must pardon me for sinking below my usual standards] it was literally a case of piss ... off.

15 comments:

  1. How very inconvenient. (Sorry!)

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    1. Good one ... and so very true unfortunately Bes.

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  2. Closed toilets? Someone's taking the piss! ;)

    We have a similar situation here, where the local MetroParks turn off the water supplies to all the drinking fountains in Winter, so there's no freezing pipes. i think they keep the toilets open, though.

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    1. I tend to think any civilised country should supply and keep open a reasonable amount of toilets. Some of the toilets are so despicable though.

      Unfortunately no one was taking the piss Dudge ... at least not there.

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  3. The village people were against this,it is getting crazy lots are closing down completely in some places. I just hope the officials get taken short with no loo in sight.Did you go to the pub Charlie,any excuse for a drink.Ann

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    1. I'd forgotten you might have some inside information Ann as regards Over Haddon.

      No, I didn't use the pub. My bladder [or more likely my prostate] seems to switch off very quickly so even though I feel as though I'm going to 'have an accident' one minute, the next minute the urge has gone. Just like that.

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  4. What do you need toilets for when you're in the middle of open countryside?

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    1. As regards open countryside, you can't say that about Lathkill Dale. The more popular paths in the Peak District attract steady traffic and to be caught with your pants down is a possibility.

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  5. Of course, with our cold, cold winters, we are used to that. They even lock the pit/vault toilets that don't use water. They can't get folk to clean them for a few hours a week and they get vandalized if left unlocked. Even many of the rest areas along the highway that people come to depend on during long drives in this vast country, are blocked by cement borders so you can't even get into the area to take a nap. It is crazy and doesn't promote safe driving. I will be getting angry soon so better shut up and go away.

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    1. It's not just our part of the world then. The problem we have with relieving ourselves in the open is that we're a small island with a large-ish population. There's often someone coming along ...

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  6. Thank goodness most fast food joints are required to have loos, otherwise I'd have had a succession of wet feet over the years due to closed toilets!

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    1. Invariably I have been able to find somewhere to relieve the pressure ... but it isn't always easy.

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  7. Do they think people don't need to go in winter?? That people don't go out and walk in winter?? The logic eludes me. With unemployment so high, I'm sure there must be some folks willing to work maintain them through the winter months. Whatever their excuse is, I'm sure it's piss-poor!! (pardon the awful pun!!).

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    1. It's the expense isn't it ... that's what they'll say. I would say what about priorities ...

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  8. Or Better Yet...PISS ON! :-)

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