Re: Thankyou Blackland toilets!


"Ewan Scott" <ewanscott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dda3eh$t21$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Eddie Langdown" <the3lang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:dd70nf$2oce$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> just back from Blackland Farm...a good camp.... If any of you have any
>> responsibility for planning camp sites or building camp toilets.. please
>> spend a penny at Blackland. Their toilets are 10 years old now and as
>> neat
>> and un-damaged as when built. They look unobtrusive; solid wood chalet
>> style with all brass fittings and no broken plastic laminated panels or
>> doors anywhere; solid, clean & functional. About 9 blocks, each divided
>> into four or five locked self contained units, so every group has a key
>> to
>> their own toilets and wash-room.
>> 2 problems I guess: they need another shower per section and the sheer
>> cost of such a well designed investment in any site.
>> I don't support their methods, but when i grit my teeth and visit the
>> smelly, battered, broken, slum toilets on just about every scout site, i
>> can see what the SA are trying to achieve with their 'Centres of
>> excelence'.
>
> Hmm. I must admit that the condition of toilets at campsites does raise
> cause for concern. Apart from the obvious question of health issues
> related
> to topilet blocks that are not regularly cleaned and maintained, resulting
> in flors covered in urine leaking from insecure urinals and water closets.
> Faeces smeared walls in cubicles, and filthy wash-hand basins with no hot
> water and no soap provided.
>
> Now, at some point these toilets must have been in sound condition, one
> presumes. So the poor condition is down to the users of the toilets. That
> generally means that Scouts and Guides are not treating the facilities
> with
> respect. Okay, so there are no Scout and Guide users of most campsites
> nowadays, but still the bulk of users are from our associations. So the
> solution to the toilet issue starts with each and every one of us making
> sure that we leave toilets as we would wish to find them - sometimes hard
> when the toilets leak and the floors are in poor condition anyway.
>
> When I check the toilets at the hut after section nights I can be
> guarranteed that after Beavers and Cubs the WC in the male toilet has been
> used and not flushed. I always have my say about it and ask if they leave
> their toilet at home in that condition. One presumes they don't but you
> never know.
>
> The other regular problem that is down to users, is torn toilet paper
> littering the floor, and balls of wet tissue thrown up and stuck to the
> ceiling. That is down to group control and discipline. I would hope that
> my
> lot would either have the sense not to behave in such a way, or sadly, be
> so
> in fear of the retribution that will befall them if they so behave that
> they
> don't cross that particular line.
>
> However, ultimately, it is down to th campsites to find a way of regularly
> and frequently cleaning the toilet facilities. If that means on a weekend
> that they have to make hourly cleaning a scheduled job then so be it. If
> in
> turn that requires paying a cleaner then that may have to be the way
> ahead.
>
> Ewan Scott
>
>
I took a parent/ mum with me to help at a camp at Bentley Copse last month,
she is an otherwise 'outdoor' and capable person and although the actual
design of the loos was pretty good & good state of repair.... she said there
was no way she would have a shower in there. She felt that a cleaner should
go-in every hour, if only to scrape the mud off the floor.
The whole point about Blackland is that every group has a key to their own
section, and they are 'as new' after 10 years of solid use. I guess you get
what you pay for.
Eddie


.

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