Rosewarne car park public toilets closure

Business owners in Camborne believe the closure of the male and female public toilets in the Rosewarne car park and the proposed closure of the disabled access toilet, in the same location, by April 2016, will adversely affect the numbers of shoppers visiting the town centre.

BID Camborne has approached several owners and managers of shops in Trelowarren Street and asked for their opinion - they were all unhappy with the situation.

Sarah Leggett owns New Camborne Deli. She said: “I didn’t even know they were closing! It will make people think twice about coming into town. People like my mum, who has MS, need access to public toilets and if they’re not available they’ll go to places like Tesco and stop using local shops.”

Tina Chapman-Dalley, owns the boutique, Sands of Cornwall. She said: “I knew it was happening and I’m totally disgusted. So many people rely on public facilities, it will stop them coming into town.”

Maggie Johns, owner of The Shoebox, said: “I’d no idea they were closing. It won’t do the town any good. That is the only public toilet left in town. If people ask me where the nearest toilet is I’ll tell them to buy a drink in a restaurant or something, but that’s far from ideal.”

Jon Dew is the manager of WH Smith. He said: “Surely there has to be a public toilet? Our core customers are elderly and we have lots of customers with young children too. If the town doesn’t have public toilets they might decide not to come here.”

Alison Jones, owner of Cards for all Occasions, said: “I knew this was happening and the message it sends out is ‘don’t come to Camborne’. It will definitely affect footfall in the town centre. If people ask where the nearest toilets are it’s going to be embarrassing.”

BID Camborne, Camborne Chamber of Commerce and Camborne Regeneration Forum are already lobbying local councillors to find a solution to the problem and are urging Camborne residents and business owners to do the same.