Don't let the Meadows go down the pan, users told

THERE were demands today for temporary toilets to be brought in to Edinburgh's biggest park during hot spells after residents reported people "urinating at every tree".

The Meadows is served by only one set of public toilets, on Middle Meadow Walk, at least a ten-minute walk away from some parts of the park.

Locals say the recent fine weather has led to a huge rise in the number of park users who simply head for the nearest tree instead, making the park a no-go area for families.

The call comes as city leaders are looking to close half of the city's toilets - and even the existing Meadows facilities are under review.

Chris McGregor, who has lived on the western edge of the Meadows for 40 years, even found a queue forming one hot Saturday afternoon for a portable toilet that building contractors had brought in outside her home.

She said: "We've had people coming looking for places to relieve themselves and coming into our gardens or using the street.

"I can understand them wanting to come out and use the Meadows on a hot day but they're coming with boxes full of booze and, in no time at all, they need to urinate.

"When you say there's one at Middle Meadow Walk they just laugh at you because they are not going to walk a mile. It is just not acceptable. Some of my neighbours say they no longer take their grandchildren into the Meadows because there are men urinating at every tree.

"I have every sympathy with people wanting to use the Meadows in the sunshine but the council needs to ensure the facilities are there."

She said the queue for the workers' toilet - which contractors eventually put a padlock on because of how dirty it got over the weekend - is proof temporary toilets are needed. "I think it is the responsibility of the council to provide some sort of facilities," she said. "At least over the summer months they should have temporary toilets."

The city council's budget earlier this year included a 413,000 saving from the cost of providing public toilets, which is to be achieved by closing 15 of the city's 30 public conveniences.

Labour Meadows/Morningside councillor Paul Godzik said: "It is fantastic that the park is so well used but the council has to take responsibility to ensure there is adequate provision.

"At the moment, the administration are actually looking to cut toilet provision and that would be devastating and entirely wrong for the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links."

When asked whether the adequacy of existing toilets in locations such as the Meadows would be considered over the summer, the city's environment leader Robert Aldridge said: "We are investigating a number of options in relation to the provision of public conveniences in Edinburgh and this will include the adequacy of such provision in key locations."