Squat toilets are 'ridiculous' say shoppers

A controversial decision made by the management at the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre to install nile pan toilets following a cultural awareness course has proved highly controversial.

The new toilets open next week, but have the shopping centre’s bosses gone 'potty'?

Rochdale Online reporter Laura Wild spoke to shoppers in Rochdale today (Saturday 17 July 2010) to find out what they think about the new ‘squat’ toilets.

Christine Norris described the decision as 'rubbish' she said: "I think it is ridiculous, I think they will be smelly and unhygienic."
 
Alan Turner echoed these thoughts, he said: "I won't be using them. Why don't we just have normal toilets?"

Mr Howarth added: "I think this is a ridiculous idea! I have members of the Asian community living on my estate and they don't have these holes in the floor in their houses. It is completely unhygienic and certainly a waste of money."
 
Magda Kunicka thinks it is a fair to include the nile pan style toilets, she said: "Why not? I think it is a good idea to meet people’s needs."
 
Mrs Thompson said: "It is ridiculous. I shall not be using them and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to use them. This money could be spent on other things, things this town needs. I think it is a really bad idea."

Susan Elston has split views on the new loos, she said: "On the one hand I wonder if we can actually afford for the new toilets to be installed but on the other hand as a nurse of 30 years I understand that different people of different cultures need to be accommodated for."
 
Ann Howells said: "It is a disgrace, when I first heard I just though oh my god - what next?
 
"When people move to our country they should live by our rules. Doing this is like going back to the olden days and it’s a waste of money.
 
"I don't think young Asian people will use them because they have been brought up here using a toilet.
 
"The money could be spent on other things, like education."
 
Alison Howells added: "I don't think it should have been done. The people they are being provided for have normal toilets at home. It is 2010, everyone uses a toilet.
 
"Elderly members of the Asian community surely won't want to bend down and use the toilets."
 
Eileen Lord said: "This has made Rochdale a laughing stock, again. We are always in the news for something stupid.
 
"I think the toilets are a waste of money.

"I am not racist but I don't understand why these special toilets should be introduced."
 
Tanzila Kauser said: "I think this is ridiculous; people who move to this country come for the modern world and they leave things like nile pans behind. I think the majority won't want them and the minority will.

"The toilets were disgusting before and I think this will make them worse.

“They need to think financially and hygienically.

“Some people have never been taught how to use a squat toilet. I won't be using them."

Councillor Irene Davidson, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, speaking on behalf of all three parties said: “The installation of a particular type of toilet at the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre has had nothing whatsoever to do with the council. 

“The shopping centre has taken this decision without our knowledge or advice.  If our views had been sought we would have been against the idea and this is still the case. 
“The council has not contributed financially to this scheme, which has been privately funded by the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre. 

"Rochdale is blessed with a diverse and friendly population.  We get on well and respect one another. Doing things like this is divisive and does not help our borough.

We call upon the shopping centre to review their decision.”