A HEREFORD shopping centre is threatening that it could have to close its public toilets again if vandalism continued.
Maylord Shopping Centre, recently taken over by Herefordshire Council and transferred to its business support company Hoople, shared pictures of its vandalised toilet on social media.
It said that the behaviour was happening daily, and urged customers to respect the toilets.
If damaged continued, Maylord bosses said they might consider closing them again.
OTHER NEWS:
- Hereford police officers assaulted by drunk to feature on TV tonight
- Herefordshire man suffers life changing injuries after being hit by car and attacked
- Important update issued as Herefordshire warned river levels are rising again
In August 2019, before the shopping centre was bought by Herefordshire Council, the toilets closed.
Simon Whiting, the centre's manager at the time, said it was no longer viable for the toilets to be kept open due to the cost of maintaining them.
He said: "It is with much regret that as from today the Maylord Shopping Centre toilets will be closed until further notice.
"The closure is a reflection of the current retail climate whereby the financial strain has meant maintaining and managing the toilets is no longer feasible.
"We will continue to monitor and review with the hope being that we will be able to reopen in the not too distant future."
OTHER NEWS:
- Herefordshire school relaxes Covid rules – but virus still a 'concern'
- Double yellow lines could stop problem parkers in Hereford roads
- Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes to switch on Christmas lights
But after the council bought Maylord Shopping Centre in 2020 for more than £4 million, it spent almost £100,000 as it refurbished and reopened the first floor public toilets.
Council economic development manager Nick Webster said in November 2020: “I can confirm that the majority of that £100,000 is for the toilets which would bring them back into use.”
Environment, Economy and Skills cabinet member Ellie Chowns said at the time that the investment would help drive footfall and improve the quality of life for everyone in the city centre.
The council said it secured control of the centre in June 2020 to prevent the shopping centre falling into further decline.
It said it wanted to redevelop the site to produce medium to long term opportunities for local businesses.
Then in October 2021, Herefordshire Council said the "operational management" of the centre was being transferred to Hoople.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here