Vandal targets disabled toilet

Audlem Parish Council heard on Monday night how the locks on the village's award-winning toilets are being hit by dangerous vandalism.

Two recent incidents have targeted the disabled toilet. In one, two penny pieces were inserted in the lock, one of them bent in two. This would require considerable pre-planning and possession of some basic engineering equipment.

A gel-like substance was also inserted in the lock which might have resulted in an innocent, and probably disabled user ending up locked inside the toilet, possibly for hours.

On another occasion, the lock was completely dismantled and all the components laid out inside on the toilet floor.

Cllr Mike Hill and contractor Des Guerin have had to effect numerous repairs over recent years although the two disabled toilet incidents have been in recent weeks. The Parish Council will be writing to thank Des for all his help and hard work ensuring the toilets are maintained in working order despite the worst efforts of whoever is causing the problem.

Audlem's public toilets were taken over by Audlem Parish Council and completely refurbished when they were closed by Cheshire East council in 2011. This was so unusual, at a time when toilets were being closed by councils across the country, that Audlem was featured on The One Show on BBC1 in contrast to Manchester that had became a virtual desert as far as public conveniences are concerned.

Since then the toilets, which are cleaned and serviced daily, have won a Gold Award in the national Loo of the Year awards.

If anyone has any information that could identify the engineering orientated vandal, please call Mike Hill on 811843. The police will then be called in as these are not only cases of criminal damage but could also be seen as targeting disabled visitors and members of the community.

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