Guildford’s MP Has More Success with PMQs and Calls for Pennies to be Spent on Keeping Toilets Open

Published on: 21 May, 2023
Updated on: 23 May, 2023

Angela Richardson in the House of Commons

By Martin Giles

Guildford’s MP Angela Richardson has asked yet more questions of the prime minister in the last two weeks. She had three other questions selected between December 2022 and March this year but puts down her success to pure luck. “They are drawn in a ballot,” she said.

On Wednesday (May 17) Richardson called for public toilets to remain open into the early hours of the morning.

After the PMQ session, she said: “In the early hours of Saturday morning last week [May 13]”, I was out with Kathy, Pete, Jo and Tim, who volunteer as#Guildford Street Angels. Today I had the opportunity to pay tribute to them at Prime Minister’s Questions – and all the volunteers who are out every weekend.

The public toilets in Woodbridge Road.

“I’ve raised before my huge concerns about the fact that Guildford Borough Council has closed public loos and forced young women out at night to seek other places, including dark, secluded areas if they are caught short, which is dangerous.

“I am calling for the immediate reopening of town centre public loos in Guildford and I’m pleased that Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, agrees with me that sometimes by spending pennies on little things, we can make a huge difference in keeping women and girls safe.”

Guildford’s public toilet list as published on GBC’s website but opening hours are not stated. Click on image to enlarge.

In the previous week, Ms Richardson asked the prime minister about support to high streets across the constituency ahead of Surrey Day.

She said: “Today it was time for me to ask about #Guildford‘s high streets with #SurreyDay coming up this weekend.

Guildford High Street

“I do hear regularly from businesses that higher parking charges as well as increases in rental and energy costs are making things tougher for them. It is an issue that the prime minister knows well, having been chancellor during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“I was pleased that he underlined this government’s commitment to high streets through abolishing business rates for thousands of shops and hospitality and leisure venues as well as investing heavily through the High Streets Fund and Towns Fund.

“I know that many businesses are finding things more difficult right now – but the government is listening and supporting them.”

Responses to Guildford’s MP Has More Success with PMQs and Calls for Pennies to be Spent on Keeping Toilets Open

Nigel Keane Reply

May 22, 2023 at 12:58 am

I do not object to having to pay a little more for parking. However, I have a mobile phone that does not support apps and am very frustrated that now that Surrey County Council has taken control of all on-street parking in Guildford we can no longer pay with cash.

In Godalming, the Crown Court car park takes both cash and allows a debit/credit card to be used in their machines they also provide some free short-term parking which helps local businesses.

If you park at the Royal Surrey County Hospital the machines also take cash or card payments. Why not allow the same in Guildford?

Taking the bus or cycling is not always easy, especially for those who live in more rural areas.

As for toilets, it is not always easy to find a business where you can use theirs. Closing the public toilets is a too easy choice for Council members seem to forget that they are there to serve the public, not the other way around.