FIVE STAR PUBLIC LOOS SCOOP NATIONAL AWARDS

Teignbridge Council is flushed with success at the news that five public loos in the district have been awarded 5-star ‘Loo of the Year’ Awards – the highest possible grading in the national competition.

Every year since 1987 the Loo of the Year Awards, run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association, have celebrated the best quality public loos across the country. This year all five of Teignbridge Council’s entries have achieved top marks, placing them as among the cleanest, highest quality loos in the country.

The five-star winners are:

· Abbotskerswell
· Cricketfield Road Car Park, Newton Abbot
· Market Walk, Newton Abbot
· The Lawn Public Conveniences, Dawlish
· The Den Public Conveniences, Teignmouth

The results follow a rigorous judging process which examined a number of key components. This included cleanliness, hygiene equipment, air quality, signage, décor, maintenance, provision of fixtures and fittings, security, accessibility, and overall management & care.

There was further success for Teignbridge at the Awards when both Teignmouth Den and Market Walk loos also picked up awards for ‘Attendant of the Year’. Attendant Raymond Murrin-Pyne received the nod for his work at Teignmouth Den, while in Newton Abbot the award went jointly to attendants Christine Wines and David Moss.

Cricketfield Road in Newton Abbot was also named as one of the top three most accessible loos in the country, a special award which recognises the importance of disabled access to public conveniences. The loo has recently been the first in the district to become ‘Changing Places’ certified, offering a changing place for visitors with profound disabilities and their carers.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Environmental Services said:

“We work hard to ensure that public conveniences in Teignbridge are of the best quality and as clean as possible, and these awards are a welcome indication that we’re achieving these aims in many public loos.
 “Public conveniences are consistently among the services that local people tell us they most value, and in Teignbridge people have the right to only expect the best.”


In Teignbridge much of the credit for keeping public loos clean goes to Specialist Hygiene Services (SHS), the cleaning contractor employed by Teignbridge Council.

Philip Hillier, Director of SHS said:

“This is a full team effort between Specialist Hygiene Services and Teignbridge, and these awards are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of our supervision and cleaning team in the often difficult and dirty job of dealing daily with all manner of issues in local loos. They can all feel as justly proud of their contribution to this success, as we are of them. Well done to all.

 “It is our privilege to have worked with the Council team for many years in providing a first-class service and working hard to keep the loos in a condition which means residents and visitors alike can benefit from safety and comfort."