How classy!

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 22 Sep 2006, 21:08

I'm " flush" with excitement!!!

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 22 Sep 2006, 23:14

Who qualifies for a radar key

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2006, 10:20

In terms of administration - when calls come in to their centre relating to servicing, maintenance & breakdowns - there must be a log.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2006, 10:23

Given the number of problems they've had - there must be an enormous log that just won't go away.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 23 Sep 2006, 12:33

I've just noticed the 'No change given'. How pointless is that ! The charge is 20p and the largest coin accepted is 20p

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2006, 12:41

What becomes of the broken hearted?

...Spent a penny but only farted!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 23 Sep 2006, 12:59

Marya wrote:I've just noticed the 'No change given'. How pointless is that ! The charge is 20p and the largest coin accepted is 20p

Erm, future-proofing? In case they decide to reduce the price to 17p. Or increase it to 23p, which is more likely.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2006, 13:07

Maybe you should be billed afterwards, depending on what has transpired.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 28 Oct 2006, 20:09

Five weeks since my last complaint and still no sign of that software resolution.

Would anyone else like to have a go? The person to complain to is Paul Scott and you can contact him at:

paul.scott@edinburgh.gov.uk

Do let us know how you get on.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Oct 2006, 15:38

Received today:

All

Thanks to sustained pressure on BT by Adshel, our toilet partner, I am very pleased to be able to advise that BT have now completed the upgrading work to their cabling infrastructure and the APT on Portobello Promenade is now fully operational.

Thank you all for your interest and updates on the situation.

Paul.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 31 Oct 2006, 15:46

Bob Jefferson wrote:our toilet partner

Fantastic. Bet not many people use that phrase in a lifetime!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Mar 2007, 14:39

Guess what? Taken this morning:

tom nimmo · Post by **tom nimmo** » 04 Mar 2007, 15:11

Oh dear. Bob, please tell me you haven't taking to hanging about public toilets with your camera primed and ready in your hand? This is not good conduct for a person of your standing in the community. Check out the helpline on www. honestiaintapervofficer.com

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Jun 2012, 08:46

Resurrected from the archives, this thread reminds us that the automatic loo at Straiton Park on the Promenade has been around since 2005. Since then, it seems to have been closed more often than it has been open, as my posts and lengthy email correspondence since then demonstrate. If we hope to promote Portobello as a tourist destination then we have to provide basic amenities such as toilets and there's not much point having a facility that doesn't work.

The toilet is owned and maintained by Clear Channel (Adshel) along with 4 others in the city. They don't make any money from these facilities but it's part of the contract with the Council for providing and maintaining bus shelters, where they make their money from selling advertising space. So, unless pressed, there isn't really much of an incentive for them to sort any problems that arise. When people (mostly visitors) see that it is 'closed' they may be annoyed but they are unlikely to complain to anyone (or know who to complain to). It was not working a couple of weeks ago when we had that great weather and thousands of people on the beach and it was still out of action when thousands of marathon runners ran along the Prom. It's simply not good enough.

I made a few calls recently and discovered that the person responsible for the contract is Graham Atkins at City Development. In fact, he was around when the contract was originally awarded. Graham said he was largely unaware of the problems we have had in the past but promised to keep a close eye on the situation and press Clear Channel to fix any problems with the facility as per the service level agreement. He was also contacted by Maureen Child. I then spoke to Michael McCaughey at Clear Channel. He blamed a variety of causes for the loss of service, including BT, vandalism and the complexity of the design but he too promised to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.

Since then, an engineer has been out to fix the toilet and it appears to be working again. But the next time you see that it is 'closed', just drop a quick email to graham.atkins@edinburgh.gov.uk or call him on 0131 469 3783. It pays to complain.

I think the contract is up for renewal next year, so it's in Clear Channel's interests to maintain this loo.

Mark Cameron · Post by **Mark Cameron** » 06 Jun 2012, 12:49

This was mentioned at the PCC meeting the other week and the council rep agreed to feedback.

You're right Bob provision for those 'in need' on the prom are scarce enough. Could the contact details be put on the outside of the box (if they're not already) which then gives everyone inconvenienced by the closure of teh convenience a direct route to make Graham aware?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 20 Jun 2012, 19:40

From Maureen today:

Dear Councillor Child

CLEAR CHANNEL AUTOMATIC PAY TOILET: PORTOBELLO PROMENADE

Thank you for your email dated 31 May 2012, concerning the above.

Clear Channel is very apologetic about the disrupted service offered by their facility on Portobello Promenade and they have assured me that they will increase their monitoring of this unit, to ensure that it delivers the service for which it was intended.

This toilet has unfortunately, been closed for an extended period this year from 27 February until 1 June. I have been informed by Clear Channel that this is directly attributable to a UK Wide British Telecom land line fault which has affected all of their automatic pay toilets throughout the country.

However, this aside, Clear Channel has since discovered that the unit is also susceptible to sea water and sand ingress from the adjacent beach, the quantities of which has caused them much concern, so this has resulted in the need for further maintenance work from their staff.

In response to Mr Jefferson’s enquiry, Clear Channel has installed a poster with contact details within the information panels attached to the unit. This is so the local community can be reassured that Clear Channel is fully aware of any future closure or fault.

The toilet unit is connected to a 24 Hour manned Call Centre in London which can run diagnostic checks and then call out locally based APT Technician’s to attend and identify on site actions. It is, however, inspected, serviced and cleaned daily by APT Technicians, which is in addition to the unit’s automatic cleaning process which is activated after each customer use.

Ewan Kennedy, Policy and Planning Manager, Services for Communities
Transport, C2, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

How classy!

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