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Pissed off, London builds open-air urinals

Sanjay Suri in London

It's not a particularly Indian problem after all.

Authorities in London are now taking desperate measures to stop British men from urinating on the streets.

For the first time London is seeing open-air urinals where men can take a leak in full public view -- with their backs to passers-by, of course.

The Westminster City Council figured that's better than seeing the men doing it on the streets.

A trial with a few open-air urinals seems to be succeeding, a spokeswoman for the council said. "Since the trial began in July, usage has increased from approximately 500 men on the first weekend, rising to more than 1,400 men who are now using the urinals," she said on Monday.

The men, she said, are "producing a staggering 95 gallons of urine every weekend".

The new urinals, the council says, are "a practical solution to the anti-social behaviour of urinating against walls and doorways."

So bad had the problem become that offices and restaurants made repeated complaints to the council complaining of stink at London's most fashionable centres.

One of the favourite spots chosen -- termed "wet spots" by the council -- happened to be the offices of London First, the agency that promotes London as a business and tourist centre.

"Unpleasant smells from the pavement outside our offices, particularly in the summer heat, have been a serious problem for our employees," John Paine, executive director of London First, said.

It's now getting better, he says. "With the introduction of street urinals around Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, the situation is definitely improving."

But while Trafalgar Square is beginning to stink a little less, the problem of urinating on the streets remains high right across London. Some of the most stinking spots are in the fashionable West End area that has all the theatres.

At least two new street urinals will be put up in the area this week. If it succeeds, more will be put up around the area.

The scheme has been opposed by several councillors and local leaders in Westminster. They say street urinals with men using them in public view are themselves a blot on the London scene.

Councillor Judith Warner of Westminster's environment and leisure committee disagrees. "As the first authority in Britain to pilot these street urinals, I'm delighted to report we are making a real difference to reducing street fouling across the city," she said.

"This type of initiative is forming the backbone of our programme of civic renewal which is ridding our streets of filth and hazardous smells."

In an appeal to people to stop using the streets, Warner said: "We urge people to continue to take responsibility for their actions." The appeal was followed up with threats. The council has changed the law to impose fines of up to £500 on anyone caught using the streets.

The council is leaving free cards in pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres across West End and the Trafalgar Square area, telling men where to go when they have to.

The cards provide a urinating map of central London with urinals clearly highlighted. They also give useful telephone numbers to call in a crisis.

Indo-Asian News Service

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