VANDALS who wrecked Barnard Castle’s toilets fixed a copper wire across the entrance with the aim of injuring someone.
The toilets, in Market Place, were back open last week after officials carried out repairs. They had been shut for more than a week following the yob attack. The toilets are jointly managed by Barnard Castle Town Council and Durham County Council.
Town clerk Martin Clark updated town councillors last week. He said the toilet cubicles were damaged with items burnt and “worryingly a thin copper wire was fixed with the intention of causing injury on the entrance” .
Mr Clark added: “It’s not the first time they have been vandalised.” In the past, excrement had been smeared on the surfaces, but Mr Clark said Durham County Council’s cleaner had always managed to make good the situation but they were unable to do so this time. Councillors heard that there has been vandalism at the public toilets next to Morrisons in the past but not as bad as that seen at the Market Place loos. However, these facilities too had seen recent “issues” , Mr Clark said.
Mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee said the closure was bad for the high street and the mid-week market. Mr Clark said: “One solution is to close the toilets each evening and reopen them each morning. They are vulnerable to misuse because they are open continuously.”
The county council is now looking for someone local, who will be paid, to lock both sets of toilets sometime between 4pm and 6pm each day. The cleaner will open them in the mornings. Anyone interested can contact the town council on 01833 690970.
