Council hits out at 'mindless' vandals as town centre toilets left like this

08 December 2023 , 23:19

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The toilets in Cheadle, Staffordshire, are pictured (Image: No credit)

Community leaders have slammed rampaging vandals who have targeted "vital" town centre toilets.

Residents in Cheadle say they were confronted with a flooded floor at the facilities on Tape Street while soaked toilet rolls had been hurled at the ceiling. Now Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has hit out at the 'unacceptable' behaviour - and say such antics can lead to toilets being temporarily shut. It is not the first time the local authority's toilets have been attacked.

StokeonTrentLive has previously reported how an "explosive device" was set off at Leek Bus Station's toilets where an extra CCTV camera went in. Now a clean-up operation has taken place at the toilets in the centre of Cheadle.

Authorities are unhappy with the damage caused (No credit)

Photographs shared on social media and with StokeonTrentLive show the floor covered in water with a toilet totally blocked. One resident reported water-soaked toilet rolls had been thrown at the ceiling with 'slime all over the floor'.

Councillor Charlotte Atkins, cabinet member for services at the district council, said: "There is no excuse for vandalism and anti-social behaviour of this nature which can result in the temporary closure of toilet facilities which the council provides for the benefit of local communities.

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"These toilets are vital to so many people, whether elderly or families with young children, so they can enjoy time out knowing that these facilities are there for them. These vandals are damaging their own community provision."

"We do carry out clean-ups and repairs following incidents but behaviour like this is unacceptable and puts additional strain on council resources. We would ask people to report any incidents they see taking place, or experience when trying to use the facilities, and urge the minority who sabotage these amenities in this way, in the strongest terms, to stop this mindless damage."

Dave Knapper