Kicking up a stink over Lyme Regis toilets (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Kicking up a stink over Lyme Regis toilets

10:00am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News

LYME Regis Town Council is paying for a toilet cleaning service it is not getting and councillors want something done about it.

During the summer the Marine Parade Shelter toilets should be deep cleaned four times a day but the company doing the work is only spending half as much time on the work as it should.

Councillors on the town management committee were looking into the service following an average of 100 complaints a year.

Deputy town clerk John Wright said he had gone through the cleaning schedules and there was a gap between what the cleaning company’s schedules stated and what has actually been undertaken.

He said in winter the toilets should be cleaned three times a day and in summer four times – and that meant full cleans taking about 25 to 30 minutes.

He added: “However in reality we understand they actually don’t. They are probably take about half as long.”

He said their response was that the contracts state toilets need to be closed but as this was not practical the work was done around people.

Mr Wright said another company removed the sanitary bins 16 times a year and nappy bins once a week and this was probably contributing to the smells and the contract probably needed amending.

Coun Lucy Campbwll said two week collection for sanitary bills was ‘ridiculous’.

She said: “Even in winter that is unpleasant.

“I should have thought a couple of times a week minimum.

“And if they are spending on average half the time they are meant to cleaning, then I would suggest we get double the visits and for no more money.”

Coun Michaela Ellis suggested the council get its own team of cleaners to do the job.

Mr Wright said he would draw up a list of options for councillors to discuss.