No council input for squat toilets

Councillor Irene Davidson

Rochdale Borough Council has reiterated that they had nothing to do with the Exchange Shopping Centre’s decision to install Nile pan toilets.

Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Irene Davidson said: “The council has done nothing wrong.”

Councillor Davidson continued: “There was no input given from the council. We had nothing to do with the decision, we haven’t financed the toilets, and we had no involvement.

“I am sick of the council being blamed for this decision when it had nothing to do with us. I would urge the Exchange to re-think their decision.

“We may have made mistakes in the past but we have done nothing wrong here.”

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, told members of the meeting that the Council of Mosques had not been consulted on the decision, he described it as: "One persons mission" and urged that in future for decisions like this contact is made with the Council of Mosques.

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Ashley Dearnley added: “We have good traders in Rochdale and we don’t want this to damage trade in the borough and we hope this won’t damage race relations.

“Race relations are something which we pride ourselves on.

"I hope that the Exchange sees sense quickly and the toilets are removed.”

The Leader of the Labour party, Councillor Colin Lambert echoed these thoughts, he said: “No one at the council or any of the political parties has had anything to do with this.”