Winners and Loo-sers in Great Yarmouth Loo survey
GREAT Yarmouth Mercury reporters became toilet critics for a day, to investigate the borough’s public lavatories and compile a handy guide for readers.
A tour of 10 toilet blocks uncovered the good, the bad and the ugly - from glistening wash basins, to human excrement smeared over the walls of a cubicle.
In keeping with Mercury tradition, conveniences were graded out of five for general cleanliness, toilet roll provision, and washing facilities.
And once scores for male and female facilities were combined, each toilet block was awarded a total mark out of 30.
We can reveal that the toilets at Gorleston beach were crowned the best in all of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, with a perfect 30 out of 30.
They scooped the porcelain prize for having a plentiful supply of toilet paper, good washing facilities and a pleasant smell.
But other facilities left more to be desired.
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The public toilets in Gorleston High Street were generally clean, yet appeared uninviting and a stale smell of urine engulfed the building.
Quay Road’s conveniences had adequate toilet paper, though the floor was damp and there was no soap in the gents.
Gorleston’s Ravine Bridge toilets appeared slightly grubby but well-maintained, and the beach toilets beside the Ocean Rooms were spotless.
Back across Haven Bridge and into Yarmouth was the worst offender of the day.
The Caister Road toilets, by the Beaconsfield Road junction, had human excrement smeared over the flush handle of a toilet in the gents, and also covering the entire wall of one cubicle.
However, there was sufficient toilet paper and the ladies’ boasted a good standard of cleanliness.
Marine Parade’s toilets, by the pier and by the jetty, scored highly and the North Drive loos were shut on the day of inspection (Friday, March 30).
Facilities at The Conge were basic - with stainless steel sinks - but very clean, and the Market Gates toilets gleamed and had good baby changing facilities.
Last year, the winner of the Mercury’s annual toilet survey was Market Gates.
All facilities inspected fall under responsibility of the borough council.
QUAY ROAD, GORLESTON
General cleanliness - ladies 4/gents 3
Toilet roll provision - ladies 4/gents 4
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 1
Baby changing - No/No
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - No/No
Total - 20
CAISTER ROAD, GREAT YARMOUTH
General cleanliness - ladies 3/gents 0
Toilet roll provision - ladies 3/gents 3
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 3
Baby changing - No/No
Graffiti - Yes/No
Warden - No/No
Total - 16
THE CONGE, GREAT YARMOUTH
General cleanliness - ladies 4/gents 4
Toilet roll provision - ladies 5/gents 4
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 4
Baby changing - Yes/No
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - Yes/Yes
Total - 25
GORLESTON HIGH STREET
General cleanliness - ladies 4/gents 3
Toilet roll provision - ladies 4/gents 4
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 4
Baby changing - No/No
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - No/No
Total - 23
MARINE PARADE (Britannia Pier)
General cleanliness - ladies 5/gents 5
Toilet roll provision - ladies 4/gents 5
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 5
Baby changing - Yes/Yes
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - Yes/Yes
Total - 28
MARINE PARADE (Jetty)
General cleanliness - ladies 4/gents 4
Toilet roll provision - ladies 4/gents 5
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 4
Baby changing - Yes/No
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - No/Yes
Total - 25
MARKET GATES, GREAT YARMOUTH
General cleanliness - ladies 5/gents 5
Toilet roll provision - ladies 4/gents 5
Washing facilities - ladies 5/gents 5
Baby changing - Yes/Yes
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - Yes/Yes
Total - 29
GORLESTON BEACH
General cleanliness - ladies 5/gents 5
Toilet roll provision - ladies 5/gents 5
Washing facilities - ladies 5/gents 5
Baby changing - No/No
Graffiti - No/No
Warden - Yes/Yes
Total - 30
RAVINE, GORLESTON
General cleanliness - ladies 3/gents 4
Toilet roll provision - ladies 3/gents 4
Washing facilities - ladies 4/gents 4
Baby changing - No/No
Graffiti - Yes/Yes
Warden - No/No
Total - 22
NORTH DRIVE, GREAT YARMOUTH
Closed on day of survey
