Council calls on TfL to bring back tube toilets (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Merton Council calls on TfL to bring back Morden tube station toilets

10:40am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News By Omar Oakes

Toilets should be reopened at Morden station, the leader of the council has argued.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis has written to London’s transport commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy, arguing it is unfair that Morden, at the end of the Northern Line, does not have toilet facilities.

The toilets were decommissioned when the station was refurbished in the 1990s by Transport for London (TfL).

The council leader explained there had been complaints from businesses and residents about the smell of urine in the alleyway next to the station, in London Road.

Coun Alambritis said: “I have been approached many times by commuters who find it immensely frustrating that, after a long journey on the Northern Line, there is no toilet facility at Morden tube station.

He added: “I know from my discussions with the local business community that they would be happy to enter into discussion with your team to look at ways of reintroducing the toilets in a way that is cost effective for all concerned.

“I know a number of tube stations charge a fee, ranging from 10p to 50p, and I am sure that such a charge, coupled with support from the local business community, could see the reintroduction of toilet facilities at Morden tube station without a cost to all concerned.”

Elsewhere in Merton, a number of businesses have signed up to the council’s community toilet scheme, in which they allow people who are not customers to use their facilities, in exchange for a discount on their business rates.

These are: 

• Corleone Restaurant; High Street, Colliers Wood
• Haydons Cafe; Haydons Road, Wimbledon
• Saboy Cafe; Merton Road, Colliers Wood
• King's Arms; London Road, Mitcham
• Café Doro; Abbotsbury Road, Morden
• Rosy Lea Cafe; London Road, Morden

A TfL spokeswoman said there were no plans to reintroduce the toilets because of “a lack of space”.

She said: “We provide public toilets at many stations across London Underground. Most of these are free although at some locations there is a charge for use.

“Many tube journeys are less than 30 minutes long but we recognise some are longer. If there is no toilet at a passenger’s destination station, there may be facilities that can be used at the start of the journey or en route.

“To assist passengers we have produced a special map highlighting the locations of toilet facilities around the network, and the regular pocket Tube map also contains this information.”