Three out of the eleven TfL stations in Waltham Forest have toilets, and just one, Chingford, has an accessible toilet
By Marco Marcelline
Just one of Waltham Forest’s eleven TfL stations has an accessible toilet.
According to a report commissioned by London Assembly member Caroline Russell, the borough has three stations with a toilet (Leyton, Leytonstone, and Chingford), with just one station, Chingford, having a disabled toilet.
The numbers mean 27% of Waltham Forest’s stations have a toilet, and just 9% have an accessible toilet. All of the borough’s stations fall within Zone 3 or Zone 4. According to the report, 30% of Zone 3 stations in the capital have a toilet, with 17% of Zone 3 toilets being accessible. Meanwhile, 67% of Zone 4 stations in London have a toilet, and 28% of Zone 4 station toilets are accessible.
The report, titled the Loo League Table, also found that less than a quarter of stations in zones 1-3 have toilets, with the Northern line being the line with the least toilets; only 27% of stations have one.
83% of stations on the best performing underground line, the Metropolitan, have a toilet, with a third of them being accessible.
In her report, Caroline Russell AM said: “Public transport should be making our capital city accessible to all, including children, older and disabled people, as well as tourists – but unfortunately there are huge loo deserts on the tube network.”
Russell added: “Londoners shouldn’t have to cross their legs and hope on the tube. A properly accessible public transport system must include toilets and information on where to find them. This is essential for everyone, especially older and disabled people who may be restricted from travelling by a ‘loo leash’.”
Analysis in the report is based on open data published by Transport for London.
The report-makers call for the Mayor of London and TfL to ensure that all new stations and significant refurbishments include toilet provision and that toilets should be made a “requirement” for stations, “not just a consideration.”
The Mayor promised that TfL would produce details of a ‘feasibility study’ on putting more toilets on the tube network by June 2023, but nothing has yet been published.
Meanwhile, Walthamstow Central has closed its public bathroom facilities due to reports of anti-social behaviour taking place in the station. TfL has directed people to the nearby Walthamstow Bus Station which has an accessible toilet. The facility can be opened by staff on request or with a RADAR key.
Mark Evers, Chief Customer Officer at TfL, said: “We recognise that toilet provision is absolutely essential for customer care and particularly so for older and disabled customers. We are working at pace on our study into improving toilets, and are committed to sharing this with our stakeholders and to working closely with them to gain a greater understanding of where we can improve facilities and identify suitable further opportunities for more toilets.”
Waltham Forest Council did not respond to a request for comment.
Note: This article has been updated with a comment from TfL and extra information about the accessible toilet at Walthamstow Bus Station.
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