Seven Kings Park toilets reopened after two year campaign

Mark Kennedy, Seven Kings & Newbury Park Residents' Association shaking hands with cabinet member for leisure, Cllr Robin Turbefield with councillors and residents celebrating toilets reopening.

Lizzie Dearden, Reporter Monday, March 18, 2013
4:50 PM

Residents are celebrating victory after a two year campaign to reopen the toilets in Seven Kings Park.

Members of residents’ associations and park groups gathered with councillors and park keepers to officially reopen the facilities on Friday.

The toilets were shut in 2011 in a round of Redbridge Council budget cuts but funding from area committees five and seven will keep them running for a year.

Mark Kennedy, of the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents’ Association, said people had “stayed away” from the park because of the closure.

He added: “It’s absolutely fantastic news that after over two years of campaigning, the toilets are finally back open for the local community to use.”

The park, in Aldborough Road South, has sports facilities, a skate park, bandstand and children’s play area, and is used by schools as well as residents.

Ian Bennett, headteacher of Downshall Primary School, in Meads Lane, said the school had to reduce trips to the park when the toilets were shut.

He added: “Now we can look forward to the children returning to the park with more and more visits.”

Cllr Balvinder Saund said local councillors had been “assured” that funding can be found to keep the toilets open after next year.