The state of the nations loos
December 1st 2003 Richard Chisnell, Awards director, Loo of the Year Awards and Attendant of the Year Awards as well as director of the British Toilet Association gives his directors report at look at the state of the nations loos 2003 has been the most successful yet, for what we affectionately refer to as Britains favourite annual competition! With over 800 entries 25% up on last year and increased interest from both major corporate providers, as well as small family run locations, it is heartening to see real improvements in standards of toilet provision now becoming more widespread throughout the UK.
Our small team of dedicated Inspectors have examined well over 3000 separate ladies, gents, accessible and baby change facilities this year, across the eighteen different Awards entry categories and so we have a unique knowledge of what is actually happening in Britains away from home toilets.
On the positive side we see (and love meeting) large numbers of enthusiastic and dedicated cleaning staff, attendants and managers all working very hard to raise and maintain standards in their loos.
We also see an increasing number of new facilities being provided, by cash strapped Local Authorities, all recognising the need to provide modern 21st century public toilets, for all types of toilet user. They deserve praise too, because they do not currently have any statutory obligation to provide public toilets.
Toilets are the most important quality barometer in any away from home location and all our regular winners know that consistently clean toilets are not just good for staff and customers theyre good for business too and help sustain the local economy.
We see suppliers and contractors also working hard to provide effective washroom products and services to a varied customer base. Their (and to some extent our) objective is to persuade loo providers to spend more than pennies on equipping their facilities with the widest possible range of products, to satisfy the ever increasing expectations of toilet users of all ages, backed up by more frequent service provision. The modern domestic bathroom is very different to what it was twenty or even ten years ago. Customers expect and deserve similar innovations in away from home toilets.
If we could wave a magic wand, it would be to immediately raise the product and service profile in all away from home toilets and to convince providers, of all types, that their toilets are income generators and not simply cost drains, requiring dedicated management. Our Loo of the Year Award winners are, of course, already convinced of this and many are reaping the commercial benefits, but there are still too many providers who do not see the shop window in their toilets only the nuisance factor.
On the less positive side there is growing evidence that while standards of toilet provision are generally rising, standards of toileting and personal responsibility and hygiene are falling in many areas. We are so saddened when hard work and commitment, often beyond the line of duty, are immediately negated by vandalism, verbal and sometimes physical abuse, as well as general poor standards of toilet usage. We all have a responsibility to teach our young the right way to use toilets and somehow we have to convince people, who are old enough to know, that toilets should be left in a usable state for the next person. In Singapore it is illegal not to flush a toilet. In Britain, in 2003, many people do not bother to flush toilets or wash their hands and we seem to concentrate our minds on minimising water usage and therefore flushing effectiveness, rather than ensuring that facilities are functioning properly. We need to re-examine our toileting priorities.
I mention all this because the Loo of the Year Awards, together with the associated Attendant of the Year Awards - the people Awards, are about raising the profile of both toilets and the dedicated and often unrecognised men and women who look after the most basic, but vitally important everyday need be they cleaning staff, service providers or their supervisors and managers. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude and we congratulate them on their efforts and commitment.
We couldnt run the Awards without increasing amounts of sponsorship to cover the expanding costs and we thank our four main sponsors this year: Cannon Hygiene (their eighth year of support), together with Technical Concepts, SCA Hygiene Products and Unger. Cannon Hygiene also sponsor the Attendant of the Year Awards. We also acknowledge the support of the four national tourism bodies: Visit Britain, Visit Scotland, Wales Tourist Board and Northern Ireland Tourist Board, who all recognise the importance of those first vital visitor impressions often made in the toilet on arrival.
Special congratulations are offered to all our major national winners in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the Champions League of organisations and authorities who have received Standards of Excellence Awards for gaining five or more five star Awards. We are proud to recognise their efforts.
Finally, my personal thanks to our Inspectors who pound the streets of Britain in fair weather and foul, never quite knowing whats behind the next cubicle door! Its an exciting pastime not without some fear and risk but more than compensated by the quality of many of the locations visited and the friendliness of the staff on duty. Ray and Pat Fowler have finally retired this year, after trying to for a few not wishing to say goodbye to their many friends and contacts established over eight years. We will miss their involvement and dedication to their inspecting.
And so to next year more excitement, the Disability Discrimination Act compliance deadline in October, more new loos, more entries hopefully and even more Award winners, all receiving much national and local praise and publicity richly deserved and all adding value to our quality of life. It's all very encouraging and provides optimism for the future.
RICHARD CHISNELL
AWARDS DIRECTOR
NOVEMBER 2003 More articles from The British Toilet Association Ltd: | 
