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23
Six other conveniences are situated adjacent to the public
highway. They are: —
Queens Head P.H., Chislehurst.
Adj. Tigers Head P.H., Chislehurst.
Dorset Road, Mottingham.
Westwood Lane, Blackfen.
Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.
St. Johns Road, Sidcup.
The Department is responsible for repairs and maintenance
to all these buildings, for the cleansing of the ladies' sections in all
those, save at the Cemeteries and for cleansing of both sections in
the group immediately above. Of these, th.e three last mentioned
are staffed by attendants for varying hours and hot water washing
facilities are provided there.
This latter service is much appreciated by the public, especially
roundsmen and persons using neighbouring cafes. The convenience
at St. Johns Road, Sidcup, where attendants' hours are to be further
extended, is in great demand. Some indication of the use made of
the washing facilities at conveniences can be gained by the fact
that 99,800 paper towels were issued free during the year, together
with 567 linen towels for which a charge is made.
It is regrettable to have to report that instances of malicious
damage continue to occur at the conveniences. The great majority
of the items noted are mischievous by nature and do not, in
themselves, greatly inconvenience the public. Nevertheless, breakage
of windows and minor damage to fitments have to be remedied
and this cost over £200 in 1963. Included in this sum are a few
items of a more serious nature, such as damage to and thefts from
coin locks. The attention of the police was drawn to this damage
as it occurred, but the task of apprehending culprits is very difficult.
In one instance a ratepayer, witnessing some boys damage tiles on
a public convenience roof, caught one of the miscreants and proceedings
were instituted in Court.
During the year the Public Conveniences Sub-Committee met
on one occasion and it was decided to defer consideration of the
provision of conveniences in the neighbourhood of Sidcup Railway
Station, pending reconstruction planned for that area.
Considerable sums were expended on works designed to protect
conveniences from frost damage and to maintain them in a usable
condition in very cold weather. The following winter was not
sufficiently severe to test these alterations, but plans have been
made to adapt other conveniences during the coming year.