Leighton loos flushed with success again (14/12/06)

Leighton Buzzards multi-storey car park loos have been named the United Kingdoms best public toilets by the British Toilet Association, beating off entrants from the rest of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. As well as winning this prestigious national award, South Bedfordshire District Council are also celebrating winning the top award in the Full Time Attended and Attendant of the Year categories, as well as an overall five star grading.

The District Councils Vice Chairman, Councillor Beryl Meakins accepted the awards at a ceremony held in Birmingham last week. She said: "I went along to accept what I expected to be a certificate to mark our five star rating so I was surprised and delighted to come away with five awards, including a huge trophy!

"It is excellent that the District Council has been recognised for providing such a high quality facility for the people of Leighton Buzzard and to be named the best in England, let alone the United Kingdom, is a great achievement. I was very proud to accept the award on behalf of the council."

The toilets were opened in 2004 following a one million pound programme of improvements to the whole car park. Work on the new toilets brought them up to the British Toilet Associations Comfort Station standard and they now include both male and female WCs, disabled WCs, baby changing facilities, showers, an attendants office and a CCTV room.

Executive Member with responsibility for the facilities, Councillor David McVicar, said: "We are delighted to have won national recognition for all the hard work that went in to creating such a high quality facility. We are receiving very positive feedback from visitors and we are determined to maintain the standards we have set.

"Thanks to our cleaning contractors, Mitie who are part funded by Leighton-Linslade Town Council. Without the hard work of our two attendants Ramiguz and Karoline, we would not be celebrating this success.

"Plans are underway to build a similar comfort station in Houghton Regis as part of the redevelopment of Bedford Square. We will be aiming to reach the same standards and recognition there as we have received in Leighton Buzzard."

The Loo of the Year Awards and associated Attendant of the Year Awards for cleaning staff have been identifying the best in Britain since 1987 and are recognised as standard setters for all those who provide away from home facilities for customers, visitors and staff.

South Bedfordshire District Council was one of over 1100 entries this year. Every entry received an unannounced visit from an authorised Loo of the Year Awards Inspector and was assessed against a wide range of judging criteria including signage and dcor, fixtures and fittings and overall standards of cleanliness and management. Every loo receives a grading ranging from one to five and those with five stars are short listed for one of a number of national awards.

The awards come hot on the heals of the car parks Safer Parking award, which was presented to the council by British Parking Association, for the safety measures that have been put in place at the site.