Relief for passengers as loos reopen

5:20pm Friday 15th February 2008

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After a bladder-busting wait of more than 10 years, passengers using Hampton Court station are close to seeing the toilets reopened.

Commuters, led by Molesey Councillor Mike Axton, have campaigned for years, writing letters to South West Trains (SWT) and seeing no results.

“Hampton Court is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country and for the station not to have toilets is ridiculous."

Councillor Mike Axton

But now it has been announced that work is set to start in the next few weeks, at a cost of £140,000, and the toilets should open by early May.

Network Rail insists the plans to refurbish the station as part of the Jolly Boatman development next door will not affect the new toilets.

A spokesman said: "If the planning application is successful and the project begins, we would work around it."

Coun Axton welcomed the decision.

He said: "It is an end of the line station, it is the tourist stop for Hampton Court Palace and it is very poor that there are no facilities there.

"Hampton Court is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country and for the station not to have toilets is ridiculous.

"There have been signs up apologising for the lack of toilets on and off for years, so that shows that a lot of people must have been complaining about it."

A spokeswoman from SWT said the toilet revamp had been delayed because the company only renewed its 10-year lease 12 months ago, which allowed it to invest in more long-term projects.

the toilets will be jointly financed by SWT, Network Rail and Surrey County Council.