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A Forbes woman is calling on the public toilets in Forbes to be better maintained after an unfortunate experience at one particular toilet block in town.
Last week the woman, who wishes to only be known as June, went to use the public toilets by the rugby ovals on Camp Street, right beside the area where the Western Road Liners buses park.
What she came across was truly disgusting and something no one should have had to witness.
One side of the toilet block was locked while the other side was a mess - graffiti lined the walls, rubbish and toilet paper was strewn over the floor, there was no running water and, worst of all, there was faeces all over the toilet seats which made the smell unbearable.
June said she was too scared to sit down to go to the toilet but desperately needed to and was left with no other choice.
“I walked out of there crying,” she said.
“The way those toilets were was absolutely pitiful.”
June said leaving public toilets in this way is creating a bad impression for our town, especially for tourists.
“They need to be kept in better condition,” she said.
“If a tourist pulled up and went into that toilet, what would they think of the town?
“I’ve seen so many tourists and truck drivers pull up here and it’s giving Forbes a bad image.
“The bus drivers may also need to go to the toilet.”
Not long after contacting the Advocate and meeting with a journalist, June was walking along the other side of the lake and needed to go to the bathroom but when she went to use the public toilets near the water park she discovered they were also locked.
She was told by council workers nearby that they were closed due to blockage, however she said if that’s the case there should have been a sign to let people know.
“When it comes to public toilets that council is supposed to provide for the public, if there was a problem there should be a notice to let people know of alternative toilets,” she said.
“Everyone has the right to use the bathroom.”
When the Advocate contacted Forbes Shire Council about the issue, general manager Brian Steffen was very apologetic.
“We’re really sorry for the inconvenience,” he said.
Mr Steffen explained that the toilet block on Camp Street had been defunct for quite some time and that vandals appear to have broken the door and created the mess.
“They should have been locked up and not in use,” Mr Steffen said.
“But we didn’t want to demolish them in case basketball started again and we needed to revamp them. We’ll make sure they’re locked up properly now and will put a sign there to say where the nearest toilets are.”
Mr Steffen said June’s suggestion of signs was good and that council will also get a temporary sign made up for when work is being conducted on toilets to let people know they are temporarily closed.
“We really appreciate the feedback,” he said.
