Brent Council admits axing Notting Hill Carnival toilets without telling anyone except the police
However, portable toilets in Kensal Green feature on the Met’s official map
Brent Council has admitted withdrawing portable toilets from the Notting Hill Carnival without telling anyone except the police.
The news came as it was revealed that a map handed out by the police to revellers shows two toilet locations on Harrow Road in Kensal Green.
Those locations were supposed to have three toilets each, but the council axed them without consulting residents, councillors, organisers or other councils.
The toilets were introduced in 2008 after residents complained about people relieving themselves in front gardens and on the streets.
The council said the decision to remove the toilets had been taken for financial reasons, but the Times has discovered that having nine portable toilets in three locations had previously cost just �2,000.
A council spokesman said: “This year, we provided resources for sweeping streets, controlling parking and crowd control measures at Kensal Green station but not toilets.
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“Our contribution is voluntary and, due to budget constraints, we have had to make an assessment of all our activities to see which are more necessary and which offer better value for money.
“The council drafts an operational plan each year which is submitted to local police for their information. We didn’t consult further.”
The Metropolitan Police refused to reply when asked by the Times where it got its information for the map. Carnival organisers could not be contacted.
Cllr James Denselow, Queen’s Park ward, told the Times that he had not been informed about the toilets being withdrawn.
He said: “It [Brent Council] is a huge organisation and communication could always be better and certainly in this case.”
Cllr Denselow added that he would work with residents to try to get the portable toilets reinstated next year.
