Petition against 20p Walsall bus station toilet charge
A petition is being drawn up against a controversial 20p charge to use public toilets at Walsall's main bus station by a group opposed to the scheme.
Walsall Pensioners' Convention is compiling a list of names of people against the move, which they claim will affect the elderly more than any other group. Passenger transport authority Centro said the new charge follows a £80,000 revamp of St Paul's bus station toilets. They claim it will bring the facilities in line with Wolverhampton and Stourbridge.
But Peter Last, chairman of Walsall Pensioners' Convention, said the charge had proved unpopular with members.
"A lot of pensioners like to use the toilets before getting on the bus because otherwise it can be a long time to wait and you end up having to cross your legs," he said.
"This hits elderly people more than the younger generations. We are getting a petition up and running and deciding what else we might want to do.
"Some of our members suggested we should all go to Centro's headquarters and ask to use those toilets. Members are up in arms about it."
Walsall Pensioners' Convention discussed the issue as part of their meeting last week.
The move has also been criticised by some shoppers and councillors, including Pete Smith who branded it "a scandal".
He raised concerns the new charge, which will be introduced via turnstiles at the toilet doors, would lead to unhygienic conditions in areas around the bus station.
The news comes just months after Walsall Council unveiled plans to close public toilets in Pelsall, Rushall, Willenhall, Aldridge, Brownhills and Blakenall Heath in a bid to save £120,000.
Centro said the money would be ploughed back into keeping the toilets clean, well-stocked and to reduce anti-social behaviour.
