The sweet smell of UK toilet success at LOYA 2008
December 1st 2008

“The state of the nation’s public toilets reflects the state of the nation,”announced Malcolm Rose at the beginning of the Loo of the Year Awards (LOYA), held on the 5th December at the National Motorcycle Museum, near Birmingham. Clapping erupted, a little louder than usual, as a BBC documentary crew was filming proceedings in order to tackle Boris Johnson on Olympic toilet provision issues.With half a million extra visitors expected, there is a serious need for decent public conveniences.

One of the most basic human needs is a clean,hygienic and safe toilet and LOYA is rightly becoming a high profile event in the media. Attention may focus on its perceived novelty value, but the facts soon persuade onlookers of the necessity of great toilets. Awards MD Mike Bone, (pictured), did a superb job as a very warm host, with Richard Chisnell on hand to help out and efficiently shepherd the multitude of winners to be applauded and photographed.

Chisnell also presented some of the awards, including the Age Friendly facilities.“This has nothing to do with the fact I’m getting old,”he quipped. Sir William Lawrence also presented awards.Guests were treated to entertainment from Catchphrase’s Roy Walker (pictured right with the editor), and a very civilised Christmas lunch.

All sponsor presentations were very impassioned. Pamela Holmes from new sponsor Help the Aged, said that its survey ’Nowhere to Go’showed that half of respondents said they didn’t go out because of a lack of public toilets.“Those who do are carrying jugs and jars so that they don’t get caught out.They are on what we call a ‘bladder leash’, only going as far as they can before needing a toilet.The issue is one of dignity.”

Mike Burton of Albany Washroom Services, focused on the loss of billions of pounds to the economy because of avoidable illness.Burton asked the crowd,“Don’t you despair when people ask the price of your product and say,‘oh, it’s too expensive’.Compared to what? To the health of your staff and your business? It’s crazy.”

After all the issues had been aired, it was time to congratulate those who had risen to the challenge and won the battle against hygiene, access and maintenance.The 21st Anniversary Loo of the Year Awards UK Winners' Trophy was won by ASDA for the very best 'away from home' toilets in the UK.

ASDA won the LOYA Individual Categories Trophy in 2007, and this year it also won the new Age Friendly Facilities Trophy and was Scotland's National Award Winner for Babychange Facilities and Age Friendly Toilets entries. 2008 was another record year for LOYA,with over 1700 separate entries received across the expanded 60 categories – over 18% above the previous year.Bone says standards in awards entrants toilets are also improving – 42% of entries achieved the top five star grading (compared with 33% in 2007).

The other major UK Trophy Winners were: Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon for individual category entries, Highland Council for public toilet entries, J D Wetherspoon for corporate provider entries,West Wiltshire District Council for accessible facilities, East Lindsey District Council for adult/child changing facilities,McKillens (Ballymena) for babychange facilities, and South Lanarkshire Council for family friendly facilities.Trophy winners in the associated Attendant of the Year Awards, for people who put the sparkle into the UK's toilets,were: Pencelli Castle Caravanning and Camping Park (individual attendant team), Northumberland County Council (in-house cleaning team) and TC Contractors (external contractor team).

The 2008 Awards were run in association with Headline Sponsor Albany Washroom Services – with additional sponsorship provided by Armitage Shanks,The British Cleaning Council,Help the Aged and Hydro Nova Europe.The four national tourism bodies – Enjoy England,Visit Scotland,Visit Wales and The Northern Ireland Tourist Board continue their support.

More articles from Loo of the Year Awards: