A survey by Age UK London has revealed that 52 percent of older Londoners say that they sometimes reduce the amount they drink before going out. The charity is warning about the dangers of not hydrating properly during the hot weather.
Whilst the lack of toilets put some people off drinking before leaving home, Age UK London point to tools that can help find the nearest public conveniences, so that people can stay hydrated over the summer.
The Great British Toilet Map is an online map of toilet locations. It’s the UK’s largest database of publicly accessible toilets (see below), with over 14,000 facilities. Members of the public can add toilets themselves too, so the map remains as up to date as possible.
Londoners can also find public conveniences on the toilets4london app that can be downloaded for free and includes business that allow members of the public to use their toilets. Conscious that not everyone has the internet or a smartphone, Age UK London are also campaigning for more hard-copy maps to be available along with better signage.
Age UK London’s research showed that 70 percent of people don’t think there are enough toilets on their local high street in London, and 58 percent felt there was not enough in parks where many people head during the summer months.
John McGeachy, Campaign Manager, Age UK London said:
“Over the summer it is important that older people stay hydrated, but we know from our research that many will dramatically reduce the amount they drink before visiting some places because of the lack of public loos. There are however maps and apps available that they can use to find where the nearest public toilets are located. Using these tools takes away the worry of being caught short whilst ensuring people get enough to drink during the hot weather .”
According to the survey, 9 in 10 Londoners have considered toilet provision before making a journey to a particular place, so knowing where they are located can be beneficial.
TfL also produce the Toilets Tube Map showing where public conveniences are located on the tube network, which is downloadable or available at tube stations.
