Campaigners Celebrate £150,000 Toilet Funding Victory in North London Park
Following a determined three-and-a-half-year battle, local campaigners in North London have achieved a significant victory with Brent Council securing £150,000 to install new public toilets in Roundwood Park. The funding, confirmed to come from the Government's Pride in Place Impact Fund, will finance stainless steel facilities designed to be "much stronger and harder to vandalise," with installation expected before summer.
Long-Standing Accessibility Issue Finally Addressed
The original public toilets in this Green Flag-awarded park were closed in 2022 after repeated vandalism created unsustainable repair costs for the council. According to Brent Council officials, the facilities were sometimes damaged just days after refurbishment, leading to the difficult decision to close them temporarily. Since that closure, campaigners have maintained consistent pressure, describing the lack of facilities as a "public health issue" and organizing protests, including one last summer that highlighted how park visitors were resorting to using bushes due to the absence of proper toilets.
The impact of the toilet closure extended beyond mere inconvenience. Many residents reported avoiding the park entirely or limiting their visits, particularly affecting vulnerable groups including parents with young children, disabled individuals, and elderly park users. This accessibility barrier in what should be a community asset became a focal point for local activism.
Community Reaction and Political Context
Local residents expressed both relief and frustration at the announcement. Harlesden resident Kevin Buck, who had been campaigning with his wife since July 2022, said he was "delighted to hear of the project." Another resident, Rose Routh, called it "fantastic news" that the council had "at last taken notice" of the longstanding campaign.
However, Green Party candidate and leading campaigner Amandine Alexandre offered more critical perspective, accusing the council of having "repeatedly rebuffed" park users over several years and suggesting the timing related to May's upcoming elections. Despite these political tensions, the practical outcome represents a clear win for community organizing.
Council Commitment to Durable Solutions
Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement, Councillor Krupa Sheth, explained the council's position: "The public toilets in Roundwood Park were unfortunately repeatedly damaged by selfish vandals. Each time this happened, it cost the council tens of thousands of pounds to repair, and the facilities eventually had to be temporarily closed."
She continued: "We want the park to be accessible and welcoming for everyone, so we have been working hard – with the ward councillors for Roundwood and Harlesden and Kensal Green, who have been persistently and doggedly lobbying me on this issue – to identify funding for new, more durable public toilets. We are pleased to report that £150,000 has now been secured to install new stainless steel toilets, which are much stronger and harder to vandalise."
The council emphasized that the funding represents a long-term investment in community infrastructure, with the stainless steel construction specifically chosen to withstand potential vandalism while ensuring the park remains accessible to all residents throughout the year.
