Pulling the plug on filthy toilet habits
Using a coffee shop loo (if you dare) is often a disgusting affair; new hygiene council aims to flush away the filthThe above is the title for an article in Straits Times written by Feng Zengkun. Published on Oct 1, 2011.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_718748.htmlCoffee shops get quite a bit of criticism on the state of their toilets. It seems to me that those are
private toilets provided for the convenience of paying customers.
Would I be very far off if I claim that the coffeeshop toilets are also expected to serve double duty as
public toilets ?
I might add,
unfairly expected to serve double duty as public toilets.
Around 30 years ago, there's frequent cases of urination in lifts. That stopped when urine detectors and cameras were installed in lifts.
Effective enforcement. But wouldn't it be nice, more dignified and much more satisfying, if public toilets were provided instead?
Given that there are practically
no public toilets, who is taking up the slack? Probably coffeeshops, petrol stations, MRT, shopping centres etc.
Where are the toilets that are really "public", "public" as-in funded from tax money? Maybe toilets at beaches, toilets at punggol promenade, Lorong Halus wetland etc., until they are tendered out as commercial, 20cents per use, toilets.
Coffeeshops toilets? Private toilet, maintained by private funds.
Petrol station toilets? Private toilet, maintained by private funds.
MRT toilets? Private toilet, maintained by private funds.
Community Centre toilets? Non-political toilets, maintained by non-political funds.
Toilets should be provided as a public convenience, publicly funded.
Why is Singapore
depending on private establishments to spend money to provide public toilets ... for free ? and expect free and good ? Feng Zengkun's article has the following sentences,
"Part of the problem is economic - some coffee shop operators are simply not willing to engage full-time cleaners.
.... And when the operators hire full-time cleaners, they also expect them to serve drinks or wash dishes."I would claim that the problem is
entirely economic.
Why do coffeeshops have toilets anyway? Probably mandated by NEA as part of licensing requirement for food establishment. Which is good. Businesses should provide adequate amenities for their customers, amenities such as toilets and carparks, and not impose a burden on the surrounding community. However, as it is currently, the community is imposing a burden on businesses to provide amenities, in this case - public toilets, for free.
Let's do it properly -> Use public funds to provide public toilets.Does it not make better sense that a government agency, such as NEA, should be entirely responsible for providing well located, clean, well stocked, well maintained 5-star public toilets ?
