£100 charge to use toilets is 'disgusting'

12:47pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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A CHARITY worker said he was "disgusted" after he was told he would have to pay £100 to use the toilets at Worcester Racecourse.

Brian Hatfield of the Samaritans Purse International Relief criticised racecourse bosses after 100 walkers were told they could not use the toilets.

However, the racecourse defended its stance, saying the payment covered cleaning costs.

The walkers were doing a four-mile walk which involved two circuits of the racecourse on Saturday in an event opened by Worcester MP Mike Foster.

Mr Hatfield was angry that walkers had to trek to the nearest toilet, which is outside the grounds of the racecourse, on the day, which raised £3,392 for the Turn On The Tap challenge.

The money they raised helps pay for filters and wells so women and children in Africa do not have to walk miles in the scorching sun to get water.

Mr Hatfield said: "It's disgusting - we're a charity. I wanted to pay the £100 but others from the committee were against it. We have had to use portaloos outside the racecourse which were at least a third of a mile away."

But Jenny Cheshire, hospitality manager at the racecourse, said £100 was the cost of cleaning the toilets.

She said: "That's the standard cost for us to have them serviced. We are struggling big-time financially because of the flooding.

"There are so many charity events here. If we had to pay for the cleaning of the toilets for a charity event that would end up being thousands.

"At the racecourse we raise hundreds and thousands for charity every year.

"We don't charge charities for the land - all we charge is for the cleaning of the toilets, so I think these comments are a little unfair."