‘I am deeply disappointed and disgusted’: Knaresborough public toilets temporarily close following repeated vandalism

A rise in vandalism at Knaresborough's public toilets has prompted North Yorkshire Council to introduce earlier closing times and temporarily shut facilities at the town's bus station.

The move comes after repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour left council maintenance teams dealing with damage on an almost daily basis, with the bus station toilets becoming a particular hotspot in recent weeks.

Council officers responsible for maintaining the facilities say the level of disruption has escalated to the point where the toilets have regularly been left unusable overnight, creating additional costs and diverting resources away from other maintenance work across the county.

As repairs are carried out, the bus station toilets have been closed temporarily.

The council has also confirmed that all public conveniences in Knaresborough will now close at 6pm in an effort to reduce further incidents.

Knaresborough West Councillor Matt Walker said he was frustrated to see facilities intended for residents and visitors repeatedly targeted.

He said: "I am deeply disappointed and disgusted that Knaresborough's public toilets have seen a sharp rise in vandalism and anti-social behaviour recently.

"I'm hopeful the mindless vandals will be caught soon.

"These facilities are there for everyone, and a small minority are putting their future at risk through this unacceptable behaviour."

According to the council's maintenance team, the vandalism has become a near-nightly occurrence, with toilets left strewn with soaked toilet paper and requiring extensive cleaning before they can reopen.

Councillor Heather Phillips, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for corporate services, said the damage was affecting more than just the facilities themselves.

She said: "The safety and wellbeing of residents is a priority, and we always look to respond to concerns about anti-social behaviour when they are reported to us.

“Pointless vandalism like this puts extra pressure on resources, reducing the time available to maintain and improve other facilities across the network, and adversely affects responsible users.

"We will continue to work with North Yorkshire Police to tackle pockets of disorder and take enforcement action where appropriate.

"We always utilise our CCTV cameras to assist investigations and ask that incidents are reported to ourselves or the police.

"We appreciate the patience of the wider public as we respond to these issues."

The situation has also reignited calls for greater investment in Knaresborough's bus station, which many visitors use as their first impression of the town.

Annie Wilkinson-Gill, owner of The Crystal Buddha on High Street, believes the area has been overlooked for too long.

She said: "I do think the bus station could do with being more inviting and invested in, as it's a main arrival point for town -but I've been saying this for years.

"It would be nice to have it invested in as much as Harrogate bus station has.

"The toilets are an issue all over town, including the riverside.

"These are ongoing issues which have been neglected for years."

The council is urging anyone who witnesses vandalism or anti-social behaviour at its public facilities to report it to North Yorkshire Council or North Yorkshire Police to help identify those responsible.