PORTABLE toilets could be installed close to a riverside beauty spot in Gainford as a measure to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Hordes of visitors descended on the riverside beach areas near Gainford spa to cool off during hot weather in the summer, but left rubbish strewn around and excrement in the undergrowth.
The Riverside Trust and residents organised several litter picks to remove the litter and human waste but have called for measures to be put in place. David Burton, from the Riverside Trust, told members of Gainford Parish Council at their latest meeting the instances of anti-social behaviour was not a “seasonal problem” .
He added: “We are going to need some help with this financially. In my opinion I think we need bigger bins and maybe a recycling bin.
“The idea of taking bins away, like the National Trust, and asking people to take their litter home with them won’t work.
“The defecation issue you can’t get away from.
“If they [visitors] are down from Darlington, they have nowhere to go. I think something sensible like a portable toilet [might work]- ugly as they are.”
Mr Burton suggested the toilets would not need to be in place for the whole summer, but could be put there when hot weather was forecast.
He added: “As far as positioning, I can’t think of anywhere other than the ramp at the bottom of the school.”
Chairman Cllr Andrew Wilkinson said: “I think the toilets need more discussion and there may be a solution for the village that may be more long term. It needs a comprehensive plan.”
Resident Patrick Orme said: “I think a portable toilet that is only there some of the time is not a good idea. What if you need to use it on a Thursday, but it won’t be in position until Saturday?”
Another resident, Ken Hodgson, said Durham County Council provides facilities for travellers during the migration to Appleby Fair and suggested they should be asked to step in.
But clerk Martin Clark said: “Durham County Council won’t do that.”
The parish council will raise the issue with officials at Durham.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
