Reported Problem:
We have been informed by the night porter at Chelwood House in Gloucester Square, that the residents, who are frequent users of the private gardens opposite, have complained to the local council and police, after a number of plastic bottles containing urine, had been picked up by young children playing in the gardens.Westminster council, have erected covert CCTV and have alleged this to be the work of Licensed Taxi Drivers, pulling up and parking opposite Chelwood House, urinating into bottles and throwing them over the fence into the garden.
Signs have been erected by residents along the length of the square opposite Chelwood House.
WARNING
The council have employed the use of an undercover team that are keeping watch and any driver caught doing this will be reported to the police and the licensing authority (LTPH).
This is thought to be a very small, minority of drivers, this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable. No one would like to see a young child mistake a bottle of urine for a discarded bottle of soft drink. The consequences of this would be unimaginable.
While we do not condone this type of behaviour, it must be pointed out that it's extremely hard, especially during the day to find somewhere park and answer the call of nature.
Owing to the complete lack of public toilets in the area and with local hotels refusing to let Taxi drivers use their facilities, driver have now resorted to urinating in screw top plastic bottles. Nothing wrong with that, when you have to go, you have to go. But, these bottles should be disposed of properly. There are plenty of bins in the Westminster area. If you can't find a bin, then store the bottles in the boot and take them home. (Although there could be a problem with public health issues).
The real culprit here is of course Westminster City Council, who have closed almost all of the public conveniences in the borough and have made no allowance for workers in the area such as Taxi and private hire drivers.
Taxi trade representatives are willing to meet with Westminster City Council's Martin Low at any time to disgus this problem.
Perhaps they would like to sanction a rest rank outside Westminster City Hall in Victoria Street and make the facilities there available to Taxi drivers on a 24 hour basis. Perhaps TfL could also get involved by allowing drivers to use the toilets in Windsor House, Pallestra, Pier Walk, plus all bus garages and tube stations.
GREAT NEWS FOR NIGHT DRIVERS
As from Monday, 19th of August, the New Royal Oak moves 50 yards over to the old sports hall and will be open 24 hours.
With ample parking both front and back accessible from North Wharf Road.
The facilities Including male, female and disabled toilets, which will be freely available to every Taxi driver.
