ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A West London local authority is taking a pro-active approach in a bid to prevent street urination during the Rugby World Cup this autumn.

Richmond Council has signed up around 70 businesses to a Community Toilet Scheme. The council covers the area around Twickenham Stadium where several of the tournament's matches are being played.

"The Community Toilet Scheme enables local pubs, restaurants and shops to work together with the council to make more clean, safe and accessible toilets available to the public," claims the council's website.

"Handy interactive area maps show match-goers who is taking part in the scheme plus where the facilities are and what they can offer."

Participating premises - which have received council grants to join - display a sticker in their windows indicating whether the available facilities are for men, women or both and if there is disabled access.

Match-goers are permitted to use the designated toilets - whether or not they make a purchase - during the premises' opening hours. Around half of the 70 members signed up to the Community Toilet Scheme offer disabled access and 25 per cent provide baby-changing facilities.

The first Rugby World Cup 2015 match takes place at Twickenham Stadium on September 18 and the final will be played at the same venue on October 31.

Besides making more toilet facilities available, volunteer stewards will police Twickenham's streets to guide people to the facilities. And as a further aid to a clean environment, police have been empowered to hand out fixed penalty notices to anyone seen urinating in the streets.